The old stereotype in sports insists that it’s hard to be a repeat winner in rematches.
But the old cliché certainly doesn’t know the full set of circumstances that led to the Dallas Mavericks scoring for the second time in three days and for the eighth straight in two years on Friday in the Valley of the Sun from the Phoenix Suns score from Phoenix, Dallas.
As was the case with Wednesday’s 105-98 defeat in this type of “double-headed” ball, the Mavs had their shot … until they missed their shots.
“We couldn’t score a goal,” said coach Jason Kidd, using those three words to begin his post-game press work … and really, no further words were required.
On Wednesday, Dallas led most of the game but apparently missed deep clutch play from Luka Doncic, who missed that outing and that with a sprained left ankle and sprained left knee that left 44 seconds on Monday, leaving a positive win over the positive win over the Denver nuggets.
Doncic’s absence was of course central in this case as well. How many teams are deep enough to lose an MVP candidate and still roll on?
Unfortunately for the Mavs (now 9-6), these Suns – an NBA finalist a year ago and now winners from 11 to 12-3 – appear to be one of those teams.
Eerily, by the end of three-quarters, the Mavs were up five – just like in the previous game. And in an eerie and disappointing way, yet another iteration of Wednesday when Phoenix hit the gas in the final quarter to break away and started a 10-2 run that turned into a 24-6 run that was a tight in a bloated transformed loss …
And made Wednesday Friday.
In this nationally televised match between two of the best teams at the Western Conference, the Suns defeated the efforts of Kristaps Porzingis (23 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block) and Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jalen Brunson (18 points .). everyone) and over time overwhelmed the Luka-less Mavs with their now-familiar waves of talent and, against Dallas anyway, their uncanny ability to flip a switch in the fourth quarter.
Devin Booker (19 points) and Mikal Bridges (with perfect 7-of-7 shooting including 3 of 3 from the bow for 19) led the way, but veteran Chris Paul was the real troublemaker with 18 points, 14 assists, five rebounds and three steals.
The Mavs will now travel to Los Angeles to play another double headed ball, perhaps with Doncic trying to return, with games against the Clippers on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. And they will try to stop. .. repeating.
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