DALLAS, TEXAS — The Mavericks losing streak continued after dropping their fifth game in a row to the Phoenix Suns 111-105.
After losing four straight there was frustration within the Mavericks locker room. Not with each other but the frustration of not living up to their full potential. There have been many obstacles so far to start the season, and that can begin to disrupt the overall feel and morale within the locker room. Luka Doncic questioned the team’s effort and if they are fully bought in after suffering a loss to the Utah Jazz to extend their losing streak on Friday. The tide can change anytime, and all the Mavericks are left to do at the end of the day is fight.
In the first quarter the Mavericks had a better shooting performance than the Suns, but still faced a small deficit trailing by one point, which is a manageable deficit to deal with. Shots in the interior were the Mavericks bread and butter and knocked down 9 out of 14 shots in the paint and the story was the same in the second quarter. Dallas cashed in on high percentage shots to keep the lead within reach and eventually gained their first lead of the game. The Mavericks had a much better outing from beyond the perimeter this game knocking down 41% of their shots from the perimeter.
The first half ended in a draw with the score tied 55-55 after Chris Paul knocked down a jumper 13 feet out and Willie Cauley-Stein followed up with a tip in as the buzzer sounded. The difference in this game was how well the team played as a whole. 9 players in the Mavericks rotation scored a field goal in the first half, and a Luka heavy first half wasn’t needed to keep Dallas within striking distance of taking the lead. Dallas played a balanced style of basketball for a full half which hasn’t been a constant occurrence this season, and I’m sure Rick Carlisle and the Mavericks will take the small victories.
Dallas’s offense flipped the switch to begin the third quarter scoring 15 straight points that created a 13 point lead well into the third quarter. Luka Doncic was the catalyst behind the Mavericks run connecting on 5 out 6 shots with 2 coming from beyond the arc. Late in the third quarter the Suns went on a 10-2 run to narrow the Mavericks lead to 6 points after Dallas held their largest lead of the game. Dallas did what they could to fend off the Suns in the third quarter and finished the quarter with a 82-77 lead.
The fourth quarter was hard fought and both teams traded buckets vying for the lead. The Mavericks activated their gritty style of play and muddied things up on the defensive end of the court and forced the Suns to fight for each point. Chris Paul made a big three pointer to give the Suns a 1 point lead, but then missed 1 out of 2 free throws after being fouled. Dallas followed up with a score on the other end after Luka found Willie Cauley-Stein on an alley oop bucket to even things up as time began to diminish in the fourth quarter. The Suns developed a 9 point lead after DeAndre Ayton scored two baskets in three possessions, a Chris Paul jumper, and a good three pointer from Jae Crowder, putting the game close to out of reach with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
Luka Doncic scored on a quick basket and Willie Cauley-Stein converted on a layup to bring the lead within 5 points, but the Suns converted on both of their free throws to put the game out of reach with 17 seconds left, and the Suns were able to keep the Mavericks from coming back.
What Dallas exemplified on the court tonight was great effort and a good sign of things to come, even though they lost their fifth game in a row. Dallas will play their next 10 out of 11 games at home and it could be the break they need to turn things around this season
