Mavs clinch in Phoenix

~ First-time finalist Dallas hosts Miami on Thursday.

PHOENIX -- The Dallas Mavericks headed to the NBA finals for the first time in the franchise's 26-year history.

Dirk Nowitzki shook off an awful start to lead a Mavericks' second-half comeback that beat the Phoenix Suns 102-93 on Saturday night to win the Western Conference finals 4-2.

Nowitzki scored 16 of his 24 points in the second half and the Mavericks clinched a series on the road for the third time in three tries in these playoffs.

Dallas opens the NBA finals at home against the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

The Suns shot out to a 16-point first-quarter lead and were up by as many as 18 in the second.

But Dallas outscored the Suns 63-42 in the second half.

Josh Howard added 20 points and 15 rebounds for the Mavericks and Jerry Stackhouse added 19.