As of this now, the Mavs are the hottest team in the NBA.
In the first game following the All-Star Break on Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks (33-23) and Phoenix Suns (33-23) reignited their burgeoning rivalry. The Mavs won 123-113 at the American Airlines Center, extending their current winning streak to a league-high seven games while playing on home court.
Although victories over the Suns are always rewarding, this one was particularly significant since it handed Dallas the 2-1 season victory over Phoenix and the ability to avoid the Suns in any postseason tiebreakers.
Phoenix was one game ahead of Dallas going into the game in the Western Conference standings, which makes Thursday’s victory even more crucial for the Mavs as they look to pass the Suns and avoid the play-in by capturing a top-six playoff seed—or, if you’re feeling particularly ambitious, a top-five seed. There are just 26 games remaining in the regular season after Thursday’s victory.
In addition to leading all scorers with 41 points, Luka Dončić had an incredible 38-minute performance that included 11 assists, nine rebounds, and four steals. Adding 29 points and five rebounds, Kyrie Irving made five of his eight 3-point attempts. In the defeat, Devin Booker led the Suns with 35 points and eight assists.
8: Kyrie Irving scored points in 32 seconds toward the end of the first quarter after Dončić was sent to the bench for two fouls. Both he and Dončić contributed to the Mavericks’ early 29-19 deficit reduction, but Irving went bonkers in the last minutes of the first quarter.
With one minute remaining in the first quarter and Dallas behind 31–24, Irving used a smart play from Derrick Jones Jr. to narrow the advantage to five points. Irving did this by cutting past the defenders. Nine seconds later, he snatched it back from the Suns, and three seconds after that, he drew up for a wing 3-pointer to bring the Mavericks within 31-29.
With 28 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Irving made his third 3-pointer of the game after a Daniel Gafford block and a P.J. Washington steal. This resulted in another runout. The Mavs were ahead 32–31 at the moment and behind 33–32 after the first quarter.
After one quarter, Irving led all scorers with 13 points on 5 of 6 shots.
Kevin Harlan observed, “That’s why you’re hearing a lot of the boos and the angst here in this building,” in reference to the Suns’ 16–5 first-half free-throw edge with 13 seconds remaining in the half.
Daniel Gafford was given two fouls while Dončić was given three in the first half. It was a fortunate outcome for the Mavs to trail 63-60 at halftime despite being outscored 13-4 at the free throw line. The Suns shot 24 free throws compared to the Mavs’ 21 for the night, while the difference gradually narrowed throughout the second half.
38: Dončić and Irving’s combined first-half points
The Mavs vs. Suns game on Thursday felt increasingly like a matchup where whichever star combo performed better than the other would tip the scales in favor of their club as the first half went on. For Dallas, Dončić and Irving were outstanding; after two quarters, they had a 38-28 advantage over Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
Stats Rundown: The Mavericks upset the Suns 123-113 to extend their winning streak to seven games. Here are six numbers to be wary of.
