Final: Mavs 91, Suns 78

Box Score | Highlights

Behind the Box Score

The Mavs did a good job of closing out on the Suns’ shooters and clogging up the lane defensively. Phoenix scored just 13 points on 40 possessions when the ball didn’t enter the paint via pass or drive. That’s just 0.33 points per possession. By comparison, the Suns scored 1.36 points per trip when the ball did get into the lane. That’s a massive gap in efficiency and helps to explain why Dallas works so hard to keep opposing offenses on the outside.

Dallas took a 51-45 lead into halftime. During the opening two periods, the Mavs were +10 with Chandler Parsons at the 4. He almost exclusively played that spot tonight, with Charlie Villanueva playing a bulk of the backup minutes.

Parsons has now hit multiple three-pointers in eight consecutive games, the third-longest streak of his career and longest as a Maverick. He’s drained at least three treys in six of those games.

Notebook

  • Dirk Nowitzki sat out tonight for rest, as the Mavs have a game tomorrow night in Atlanta. Chandler Parsons was the starting power forward in Nowitzki’s stead. If it feels like we’ve been banging you over the head with the “Parsons at the 4” narrative, it’s because we have been. This is one of the more important developments in the wing’s time with the Mavs. At that spot in the lineup, he has an athletic advantage over almost every opponent he faces, which constantly puts him in situations to make plays for himself and for others. Parsons finished with 15 points and an assist tonight, working against Phoenix’s starting 4 Mirza Teletovic. Dirk is still the Mavericks’ go-to power forward option, but it’s looking more and more like Parsons will be playing his fair share at that spot as the season develops — and potentially into the future, as well.

  • After shooting 3 of 14 from the field Friday against Brooklyn, Deron Williams had a strong bounce-back game in this one, scoring 27 points and dishing out four assists. He was aggressive all night long and looked to impose his will on the game. The Suns are playing without several of their point guards, all of whom are sidelined due to injury, so Williams had a significant edge in experience and it showed. This was one of his strongest performances of the season, especially down the stretch, as he hit a few key buckets in the fourth quarter to put the game away, including an off-balance three-pointer with 1:35 remaining to give Dallas an 87-76 lead.

  • J.J. Barea hit only one of his first five shots, but he’d hit three of his next five in a run bridging the third and fourth quarters to keep the Mavericks offense churning through a slow period. Barea’s been in a nice way lately, having scored in double digits in four straight games.

    What’s Next

    The Mavs (28-22) play the Atlanta Hawks (27-22) Monday at Philips Arena. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. Central.

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