Nowitzki shook off his worst game in months by scoring 50 points - including 15 straight in the fourth quarter to turn a close game into a rout - to help the Mavericks move within a victory of their first NBA Finals with a 117-101 win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.
The Mavs lead the Western Conference finals 3-2, with Game 6 set for Saturday night in Phoenix.
Nowitzki single-handedly outscored Phoenix 22-20 in the fourth quarter. He set a club record for points in a playoff game and tied Kobe Bryant for the most this postseason.
