updated 4:15 p.m. ET May 16, 2005

DALLAS - The Dallas Mavericks did exactly what they wanted to do defensively, even while watching Steve Nash score 48 points.

While the league MVP and their former teammate scored almost at will, the Mavericks were finally able to neutralize Amare Stoudemire and the rest of the Phoenix starters.

“We felt that if we could allow (Nash) to score and not have all those other guys become involved in the offense, it would give us a better chance to win the game,” Jerry Stackhouse said.

The plan worked and the Mavericks won 119-109 in Game 4 on Sunday night, evening the Western Conference semifinal series 2-2.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Phoenix.

Nash had a playoff career high in points, and the most by anyone this postseason. He took advantage of openings created by the Dallas strategy to double- and triple-team Stoudemire.

Donna Mcwilliam / AP In addition to his 48 points, Steve Nash also committed nine turnovers.

Nash had just five assists, along with nine turnovers — which like his points was the most ever by an opposing player against the Mavs in the playoffs.

Dirk Nowitzki finally snapped out of his postseason shooting slump, scoring 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting. And Josh Howard did more than chip in with 29 points and 10 rebounds.

Howard kept going to the basket, scoring on layups, drawing fouls and grabbing offensive rebounds. He finished with 10 rebounds — six of them on the offensive end.

“He’s our energizer,” Nowitzki said. “He was all over the place.”

Much like Nash used to do for the Mavericks before going to Phoenix last summer.

Nash scored 23 points in the third quarter, including 16 straight for the Suns.

“They changed their game plan, and I had to be aggressive to make them pay for the way they were playing,” said Nash, who prefers sharing the ball. “We got outplayed and outhustled.”

Special feature A look back at Spurs' win over Cavs

While Nash made 20 of 28 shots, the Mavs finally stopped Stoudemire, who had scored at least 30 points in three straight games with plenty of rim-rattling dunks — including seven Friday night when the Suns won 119-102 in Dallas.

In Game 4, Stoudemire had more fouls (5) than field goals (3), none of them dunks. He scored nine of his 15 points on free throws.

“They were not going to let Amare beat them,” Jim Jackson said.

Just about every time he touched the ball, Stoudemire was surrounded by at least two Mavericks.

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