Mark Cuban is already thinking about what it would be like for the Mavericks to reach the NBA Finals.

"Everyone in Dallas is rooting for the Heat for two reasons,'' Cuban, whose team is favored to beat Phoenix in the Western finals, relayed via e-mail. ``We want to see Shaq in the Finals again, and it gives the Mavs home-court advantage.''

``Great for TV ratings. We can play our Shaq Albert video and crack Shaq up during the games. Shaq and I can give hand signals and see if we get caught. Most importantly, if the Mavs make it past the Suns, it would be great basketball between two great teams.''

The NBA will investigate the incident involving Avery Johnson's wife and two fans which occured during Game 4 in Phoenix, ESPN.com is reporting.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and reserve center DJ Mbenga, who was inactive and in street clothes for Game 4, entered the stands late in the first quarter after Cassandra Johnson,  got into a dispute with two Suns fans.

Cuban and Mbenga were joined by team security coordinator Jim Colleran in a section overlooking the Mavs' bench to check on Cassandra Johnson. A misdemeanor assault complaint was reportedly later filed by the fans against Johnson for allegedly shoving and swearing at them.

It was not immediately known if Cuban or Mbenga are facing sanction from the league for going into the stands. NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said the incident would be reviewed by the league office Wednesday.

It was not immediately clear whether the actions of an owner and/or an inactive player would be interpreted similarly.

Cuban tried to downplay the incident at halftime, calling it "a non-event."

Two season-ticket holders of the Phoenix Suns said they filed a misdemeanor assault complaint against Cassandra Johnson, the wife of Mavericks coach Avery Johnson, on Tuesday.

Jose Martinez, 34, and his fianc?e, Rebecca Kettle, 32, said Cassandra Johnson became belligerent after she complained they were standing too much during play.

Martinez said Cassandra Johnson pushed him and his fianc?e. Said Johnson: "I didn't touch him."

"Some lady was getting pissed off because we were cheering for the Suns," said Martinez, who didn't know who Cassandra Johnson was until reporters told him. "She's dropping [expletives] and her two kids are crying."

Ron Duranti, who was seated behind Cassandra Johnson, said she "took at least three swings at the woman." Duranti said the swings missed and she ended up making contact with the man.

Three other Suns fans within two rows of the scene supported Duranti's account.

"I heard something went on, but we've been in situations on the road before," Avery Johnson said. "When you are on the road, things happen. People throw stuff at you, so we'll see what happens. I haven't talked to her yet."

Raja Bell supplied the grit, and his Phoenix teammates took care of the offense.

As a result, the Suns are even again with the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals.

Leandro Barbosa scored 24 points on 10-for-13 shooting and the Suns, regrouping after a lifeless home loss in Game 3 two nights earlier, ran away from the Mavs 106-86 on Tuesday night.

Tied at two games apiece, the series returns to Dallas for Game 5 on Thursday night.

Contrary to earlier reports, Raja Bell started for Phoenix in Game 4.  Bell has a partially torn right calf.

Bell had stated previously that he wouldn't play in Game 4 and was doubtful for Game 5.

Suns guard Raja Bell will miss his third consecutive game on Tuesday with a calf injury.

With Bell on the sidelines next to Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix will have even more small forwards on the floor at the same time than usual.

Down 2-1 in the Western Conference finals and facing what they call a must-win Game 4 tonight, the Phoenix Suns talked about mental and physical fatigue.

MVP Steve Nash had questioned his team's body language and whether it had the "necessary fire" after a 95-88 loss to the Mavericks in Game 3, according to the Dallas Morning News, and Nash did not back away Monday.

"The thing that is frustrating is I don't think we've left it all out there the last few nights," Nash said. "Maybe guys have been saving themselves because of fatigue, but we can't afford to do that."

Shawn Marion, held to 10 points in Game 3, said he was "mind tired."

"It could be fatigue," added Boris Diaw. "You don't want to have excuses. Even with fatigue, it's more of a mental thing. You have to put it in your head that you're ready to go."

Raja Bell did not play in Game 3's loss, but could return to the lineup for Game 4 Tuesday night, coach Mike D'Antoni said.

"Raja feels better today than he did yesterday," D'Antoni said before Game 3. "He's not ready to go today. He'll continue to be day to day. I think it will be hard but as soon as he's ready he's going to get out there."

As Dallas prepared for Game 3, Mavericks coach Avery Johnson urged his team to play with the same desperation it showed in a Game 2 victory.

The Mavericks did just that, and now they're two victories away from their first NBA Finals appearance.

Sparked by a first-half altercation involving Jason Terry and Tim Thomas, the Mavericks defeated Phoenix 95-88 to take a 2-1 lead Sunday night.

Dirk Nowitzki had 28 points and 17 rebounds for the Mavs, who overcame an 11-point first-half deficit and regained home-court advantage they lost in the series opener.

Game 4 is Tuesday night in Phoenix.

Dallas, led by both Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard, took control of Game 2 in the fourth quarter and won 105-98. The Mavericks got to the free throw line 27 times in the second half and capitalized, forcing the Suns to make more shots with a smaller lineup than they usually go out with.

Boris Diaw had yet another classic game, this time contributing everywhere on the floor. He scored 25 points on 10-17 from the floor, grabbed ten rebounds and added six assists. one steal and a block. Tim Thomas scored 20 points before fouling out. He made 4 3-pointers, but it took ten attempts to do so.  Shawn Marion scored 19 points and grabbed a game-high 19 He added two assists and three steals.

Steve Nash scored 16 points and dished out 11 assists, but scored just two points in the second half.