Valley fans watch Phoenix top Dallas 98-90 in outdoor game

ATTENDANCE UP FROM LAST YEAR

Filling in those seats: This year’s game drew 15,617 fans, which was an increase from last year’s total attendance of 14,979. The attendance record is 16,236, set in the inaugural event against the Denver Nuggets. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden has listed its capacity at 16,100. Around 1,000 tickets were given by the Phoenix Suns to military personnel from bases around Southern California.

INDIAN WELLS — It was probably good the Phoenix Suns got their first victory of the preseason and first at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, but coach Alvin Gentry wasn't going to put too much stock in a 98-90 victory over Dallas on Saturday night in front of 15,617 fans.

The game is an annual showcase of the Suns in an outdoor arena. It's the only game of its kind in the NBA. But Gentry wasn't as concerned with the showcase as he was about how his team is playing.

So when asked if the victory meant anything, Gentry was blunt.

“Not really, not unless we get a new car or golf every time we get there. If we get golf for free for a year, then it does,” Gentry said. “I think they were missing a couple players, I'm not sure. I saw some tall blond guy sitting over there, and he had some short black guy sitting next to him (on the bench).”

The Mavericks were without 2007 NBA MVP Dirk Nowitzki and top reserve Jason Terry, who both took the night off.

“I don't think they really wanted to play,” Gentry said. “It is what it is. You just have to try to get
something out of it, and I think we did.”

Also missing was Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, who fainted at Friday's practice before the team boarded a plane.

Yet the Suns are in the post-Amare Stoudemire era, and are trying to adjust to a bunch of new players. The results have been mixed to very bad.

The worst was probably Wednesday night, when the Suns lost to the Toronto Raptors 129-78.

So Saturday night, Gentry played his starters for extended minutes and got some inspired play.

The Suns shot 39.5 percent from the field but were able to run away from the Nowitzki-less Mavericks,

building a 22-point lead after three quarters.

Leading five Suns in double figures was Grant Hill with 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting. Jason
Richardson added 15. Orchestrating the offense was Suns point guard Steve Nash with 10 assists to one turnover.

“We made some improvement, I think, but we still got a lot of work to do,” Nash said. “We just have to keep putting good games and practices together and build and build. We only have 15 or 16 days until the season starts.”

One of the bright spots was Richardson, who got a lot of easy baskets in the open court. Gentry said he wasn't planning on playing Richardson, who has a sore shoulder. But Richardson talked Gentry into letting him play.

“I'm a guy, I don't like sitting no games, no matter where it is, preseason, regular season, playing in the park. I just don't like sitting games,” Richardson said. “This was a good game. Test it to see what's going on.”

Richardson was 6 of 13 from the field with three rebounds, and didn't show any ill effect.

“The shoulder felt great, it didn't have any affect until I got hit a few times,” Richardson. “It's banged up, but it's just bruising. But I'm a pretty tough guy. I went to Michigan State. I think I can play through a little pain.”

Gentry said he played the starters together extensively to give them a rhythm to get used to each other.

For Hedo Turkoglu, who will take over Stoudemire's spot on the starting lineup, it is still a work in progress.

Turkoglu was 1 for 6 from the field, hitting a 3-pointer with 5:24 remaining in the game. He also had five rebounds.

Phoenix Suns' Robin Lopez (center right) battles Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler (center left) for a rebound during their outdoor NBA preseason game Saturday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells. More than 40 photos at mydesert.com/photos . (Michael Snyder, The Desert Sun)

Phoenix’s Grant Hill (33) loses the ball as Dallas’ Jason Kidd defends during the outdoor NBA game at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Saturday night. (Michael Snyder, The Desert Sun)

Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki, who won the MVP in 2007, shoots around during pregame warmups Saturday. Nowitzki chose not to participate in the game against the Phoenix Suns. (Michael Snyder, The Desert Sun)