WESTERN CONFERENCE

* Who: No. 2 Phoenix (54-28) vs. No. 4 Dallas (60-22).

* Season series: Phoenix, 3-1.

* What you need to know: The Suns bedeviled the Mavericks as they did many teams this season, averaging 109 points and winning three of four meetings, but that was two seven-game series ago. The Mavericks went seven in the last round, too, but they’re one of the game’s deepest teams. With Amare Stoudemire out, Kurt Thomas hoping to return from injury after two months and James Jones and Eddie House in slumps, six players have to play almost all the minutes for Phoenix. Mavericks Coach Avery Johnson turned the last series around by starting Devin Harris in place of Adrian Griffin alongside Jason Terry, giving them a small, quick backcourt the Spurs couldn’t guard. No one may be able to guard anyone in this series. but there will be more Mavericks involved in it than Suns.