Game Recap: Suns rebound strong with a win against the Mavericks 114-102

Suns welcome the new season at Footprint center with a victory.

The Phoenix Suns managed to hold off Luka Doncic (40 points) and the Dallas Mavericks, securing a win 114-102 that brings them to a 2-1 record to start the season.

Kevin Durant was stellar, to say the least, finishing the game with 31 points. With help from Jusuf Nurkic, who contributed 18 points and 14 rebounds, the Suns appear to be back on track after a rough loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

Without Beal, the Suns effectively shared the ball and received contributions from all over the floor, although Devin Booker is still searching for his shot. Despite this, the Suns seemed to find their stride on Saturday night, showcasing their depth and versatility. The team’s ability to adapt in Beal’s absence bodes well for their chemistry moving forward.

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First Half

After the Phoenix Suns started 0-3 from the field at the hands of Jusuf Nurkic, they managed to knock down six of their next seven shots, jumping out to a 17-13 lead over the Mavericks. Their shooting turnaround was fueled by strong ball movement and quick adjustments in shot selection. The Suns’ offense began finding rhythm as they spread the floor, creating open looks for their shooters. On the defensive end, they kept the Mavericks on their toes with aggressive perimeter coverage and effective switches.

On the other side of the ball, Luka Doncic was doing what he does best—scoring. He led the Mavericks with nine of their first 13 points of the game, showcasing his skill with a series of tough, contested shots. Doncic offensive presence kept the Mavericks within reach as he consistently found ways to penetrate the Suns’ defense.

Suns backup point guard Monte Morris entered the game and continued to spread the ball effectively, creating great shot opportunities for the team as they closed out the first quarter. With the return of Devin Booker and, for the first time this season, Damion Lee and Collin Gillespie, the Suns went with a super-small lineup but still held their own in the paint.

There were no standout highlights from the first quarter, but the Suns held a narrow two-point lead, heading into the second quarter up 28-26.

Rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro were in there to start the second quarter, hyping the team up and stealing the crowd.

A deep three-pointer and a put-back dunk by Dunn sent the crowd into a frenzy for the first time in the game. The energy in the arena surged, giving the Suns an extra boost as they looked to build momentum taking at 48-35 point lead past the halfway mark of the second quarter.

Durant led the team with 15 points heading into halftime, while Nurkic dominated Maxi Kleber in the paint, scoring 12 consecutive points for the Suns and giving them a 63-55 lead at the break.

Second Half

Little by little, the Mavericks closed the gap to start the third quarter, with Daniel Gafford matching up against Nurkic and Luka hitting step-back threes with ease. Dallas began finding a rhythm offensively, forcing the Suns to adjust their defense. The momentum shift put pressure on Phoenix as the Mavericks threatened to turn the game around.

Unlike last night the Suns were able to stick up for themselves and hold off the Mavericks run, leaning on a team effort, led by Dunns’ five points in the third quarter.

The Suns continued to push the pace and run up the score to end the third quarter. By the close of the quarter, the Suns held a solid lead, fueled by Nurkic, who dominated every time he got the ball in the paint. His physical presence on both ends energized the team, giving Phoenix an edge in rebounds and second-chance points. The Suns’ bench also stepped up (outscoring the Mavericks bench 17-9 at the end of three quarters), maintaining the momentum as they entered the fourth.

After a slow start, the Suns picked up the pace, with their defensive efforts setting the tone by protecting the rim. They extended their lead to 15 as Tyus Jones took control, orchestrating the offense and finding open teammates on the break. His court vision kept the Mavericks on their heels, leading to several easy transition buckets. With strong defensive stops and quick ball movement, the Suns maintained firm control of the game’s momentum.

Durant ended the Mavericks night scoring 11 in the fourth, giving the Suns a 114-102 win over the Mavericks.

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Up next the Suns host the Lakers on Monday night at the Footprint Center, starting at 7.