PHOENIX, AZ – The Dallas Mavericks ( 26-24) beat the Phoenix Suns (25-25) 99-95 in Phoenix on Thursday night. Luka Dončić left two minutes into the game with a sprained ankle and did not return for the remainder of regulation.
Spencer Dinwiddie stepped up in Dončić’s place finishing the night with a career high 35 points, six rebounds, and nine assists. The veteran guard shot 10 of 18 from the field, including 5 of 6 on 3-pointers. He also made 11 free throws.
“It’s just a shift in mindset in understanding the volume’s going to come and I’ve got to be more aggressive,” Dinwiddie said.
Phoenix was without Devin Booker and the Mavs were without Dončić. It was a pretty even matchup with both of their star players out. The Suns held their own this entire game led by Chris Paul and Cameron Johnson, they both had 22 points a piece on the night.
Deandre Ayton scored 19 points and grabbed 20 rebounds, but made just 6 of 20 shots. Paul added 10 assists.
Dallas held their own and played tremendous defense. They held the Suns to just 16 points in the second quarter giving Dallas a 54-48 lead at the half.
The second half was a battle back and forth but the Mavs played defense and made stops when they had too. They also crashed the boards hard and made three-pointers down the stretch.
“It’s just an all-around great team effort,” Finney-Smith said. “Once we found out (Luka) was out, we just stepped up.”
This is the first game that the Mavs have played without Luka and won.
The Mavs led the entire second half, but the Suns made a run for it at the end bringing the Mavs lead to 96-95 with 19.7 seconds left. Dallas was able to close it out after Dwight Powell got fouled on an offensive rebound and made the free throws.
“It was the whole group defensively,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “To hold a team like Phoenix under 100 points is a big deal. The guys in that locker room should be proud.”
Phoenix had its four-game winning streak snapped after losing to the Mavs tonight.
Dallas will have a quick turnaround and head to Utah to play the Jazz on Friday night. Tip off is at 8 PM CST.
