Sometimes, you just have to give the other team credit.
The Phoenix Suns took Thursday night’s game against the Mavericks.
Yes, the Mavericks may have helped along the process with a sloppy fourth quarter, but the Suns played like a team that was in the NBA finals last season and took a 109-101 victory because of their efforts.
No shame in losing to the team with the best record in the NBA. Tip your hat and then read our takeaways from the game:
FINISHING SCHOOL: The Mavericks have had troubles in the past finishing close games. They’ve had fewer problems in that department this season. But on Thursday they revisited the issue. Phoenix outscored the Mavericks 35-19 in the fourth quarter, 22-6 in the final seven minutes and 10-2 in the final three minutes. After the game was tied at 99, the Mavericks went 1-of-5 from the field, had a turnover and missed a free throw. That won’t get it done. As coach Jason Kidd said: “In the fourth quarter, we gave up 30-some points and against the best team in the league, you just can’t do that.”
PAIN IN THE NECK: Luka Dončić had a heating pad on his neck. He had taken a tumble into the basket stanchion and hit his head and back hard on the hardwood. Yet he was out there in the fourth quarter trying to do what he could for a victory. “He competes,” Kidd said. “If he’s hurt, he’s a gladiator. He’s going to fight. It’s not an excuse. He put his team in a position to win.” All true. But it’s an injury that Luka has had before, back when the NBA bubble was going on in 2020. The hope is that two days off between games will help him be ready for Sunday against Memphis. The Mavericks will need a bounce-back win.
OUT OF CHARACTER: The Mavericks had 19 turnovers. That’s eight more than they normally have. The Suns deserve some of the credit for that, but the Mavericks have to take better care of the ball. If they get one lesson out of this game, that should be it.
START A NEW ONE: The Mavericks had their four game winning streak, and their six-game home winning streak, snapped. It’s time to get going on a new one. The Mavericks have had Memphis’ number and need to keep it on Sunday. The upcoming road trip is short, but challenging (at Golden State, Portland). On the bright side, the Mavericks don’t have to see Phoenix again this season, unless it’s in the playoffs. They lost all three meetings and have a nine-game overall losing streak going against the Suns.
NO EXCUSES: The last thing the Mavericks ever do is make excuses. They didn’t use it as an alibi when half their team had COVID-19. They certainly aren’t going to fall back on this game being the second game on back-to-back nights when the one the previous night ended only 21½ hours before this one began. But it is a fact. And the poor finish to the game could have been a result. “Maybe the late-game back-to-back situation got to us a little bit,” Kristaps Porzingis said. “Legs were a bit more tired. We fought and gave everything we had out there. But that definitely is a factor in these kind of games.”
Twitter: @ESefko
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