The Dallas Mavericks have won their first home game in the quarterfinals series against the Phoenix Suns in the North American professional basketball league NBA.
With the 103:94 (51:44) victory on Friday evening (local time), Dallas reduced the best-of-seven series to 1:2.
Four wins are necessary to advance to the Conference Finals.
Game four of the series airs Sunday night.
The Mavs led almost the entire game, at times by 18 points.
In the closing stages, the Suns closed the gap to eight points.
A Reggie Bullock three-pointer a minute before the end finally decided the game.
The best pitcher was Dallas' Jalen Brunson with 28 points.
Star player Luka Dončić narrowly missed a so-called triple double with 26 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists.
Maxi Kleber also showed a strong performance with 14 points and three blocks.
However, the German international is no longer part of the starting lineup, the top five, for the Mavs.
Point guard Chris Paul in particular did not have a good day with the Suns, the 37-year-old made seven turnovers in the first half for the first time in his long NBA career.
The Philadelphia 76ers also drew 2-1 in their series against the Miami Heat.
The Sixers won 99-79 (41-34) on the return of league top scorer Joel Embiid.
Embiid missed the first two games of the series due to a facial injury and a minor concussion.
The center played with a black face mask and had 18 points and 11 rebounds.