NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
The never-say-die Dallas Mavericks put up a valiant, short-handed effort against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, losing 112-107. Devin Booker was the high scorer and all-around best player for the Suns, scoring 37 to go along with five rebounds and nine assists. John Poulakidas led Dallas in scoring off the bench, pouring in 23 and making it look easy.
Both the Mavericks and Suns were on fire early from the three-point line. The teams traded leads, with neither squad playing much defense. Both Cooper Flagg and Jalen Green exited the game early with injury issues and it was unclear if either would return. The Mavericks stayed feisty and stuck with the Suns, trailing 33-29 after one quarter.
Advertisement
With Cooper Flagg returning in the second, Dallas tried to keep pace with the Suns and managed for most of the quarter. The hot outside shooting from Dallas cooled but getting to the line allowed Dallas to match scoring with the Suns. But after tying it at 50 with 4:22 remaining, the Mavericks would score only three points the rest of the quarter. The Suns scored slowly and built up a 61-53 to take into the half.
Before the second half started began, it was reported that Jalen Green would not return. The Suns opened the half blowing up their lead to as many as 18 as Dallas looked half asleep. The Mavericks, of course, spent the rest of the period whittling that lead back down to zero only to unravel in the final few minutes. The score entering the fourth was the same difference as when the second half began: the suns lead 88-80.
Dallas would not go away. The Mavericks stormed back once again, taking a 95-93 lead with around eight minutes remaining. Following a Suns timeout, Phoenix retook the lead but not before the Mavericks entered the 45th CLUTCH game of their season, being down five with under five minutes to go. In the first really obvious tanking move I can remember, Kidd pulled all his starters and they STILL managed to keep the game within three points until a Devin Booker three sealed the game with 1:12 remaining. The Mavericks fall, 112-107.
Have yourself a game, John Poulakidas
I make it a point not…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/3-musings-dallas-falls-phoenix-042328055.html
Author :
Publish date : 2026-04-09 04:23:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
