The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Phoenix Suns on Monday night in Dallas.
Once the Mavericks went on a big run halfway through the first quarter, the game was never really in question.
After the Mavericks’ initial surge in the first quarter, the Suns were able to put together a few brief challenges throughout the game, but they never got closer than 15 points.
Dallas has allowed teams back into games at times, including these Suns in the season’s opening game.
Tonight, no. They won by holding on.
Luka Doncic scored 33 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and provided six assists, making him the game’s leading scorer overall.
On 6-of-7 shooting, Josh Green scored 16 points off the bench.
The Suns were led by 20 points and eight rebounds from Deandre Ayton.
The game prompted the following three ideas:
Mavericks had a lot of energy all night
The Suns were playing their third game in four nights on the second night of a back-to-back. The Mavericks had a lot of energy all night.
The Mavericks should win that on schedule. Dallas, on the other hand, has struggled to win games this season.
This evening was unique. From the start, it was clear that they had more energy than the Suns and would not play around.
Especially in the first half, the normally plodding Mavericks raced up and down the court.
Only in the first half did they score 11 fast break points.
Their season average is 9.8 points per game. They only slowed things down on offense in the second half.
The Suns’ weak legs contributed to some below-average 3-point shooting as their defensive intensity remained high. It was pleasing to see the Mavericks prevail over an exhausted team.
Phoenix couldn’t make Dallas pay for their defensive scheme
Because the Mavericks’ aggressive double teams were daring the other Suns to beat Devin Booker for most of the game.
Booker was forced to make poor shots as a result of their inability to do so.
He completed the game with only 11 focuses on 4-of-13 shooting.
Booker made only two three-point attempts and was 1-of-4 from the rim.
The Suns didn’t have anyone else who could score for them now that Booker was neutralized.Ayton scored a lot, but most of his points came from cleaning up around the basket on offensive rebounds or when he was mismatched with a smaller player on a scramble.
Chris Paul was out with a sore heel, and the Suns really missed him.
Despite the victory, the same issues persist
Despite the Mavericks’ initial victory, they were outrebounded by an exhausted Suns team.More assists went to the Suns.
In addition, Phoenix dominated the paint and outscored the Mavericks 46-42, a score that appears closer than it was due to garbage time.
By shooting more than the Suns, Dallas mostly won this game.
They were 52% from the floor by and large, contrasted with the Suns’ 43%.
Additionally, they shot 49% of their threes from deep, making them absolutely flammable.
On the other hand, the Suns only shot 34%.
In order for the Mavericks to stop relying so heavily on outshooting their opponents, they must identify some of their weaknesses.