Kidd lifts Mavericks to key win over Suns

Jason Kidd scored 19 points and handed out a season-high 20 assists to lift Dallas to a key National Basketball Association victory over the Phoenix Suns yesterday.

The Mavericks beat the Suns 140-116 to virtually assure themselves of a Western Conference playoff berth.

They also virtually insured that the Suns won't be appearing in the postseason.

The Mavericks own a four-game lead over the Suns for the eighth and final playoff spot with five games left, and because the Mavs won the season series, they hold the tiebreaker over the Suns.

Kidd also reached a personal milestone, as his 14th assist gave him 10,142 for his career, passing Magic Johnson for number three on the NBA's career list.

He set Mavericks records for first-half assists with 16 and assists in a regulation game.

Dirk Nowitzki 28 points for the Mavericks, his 20th straight game with at least 20 points.