The Dallas Mavericks lost to the Phoenix Suns 114-102 in their road game on Saturday night. Kevin Durant led the Suns with 31 points, while Luka Doncic scored 40 points for Dallas in the defeat. The Mavericks are now 1-1 for the season.
The first quarter saw a tight contest, as Dallas established an early 7-2 lead before Phoenix surged ahead, taking control with a solid advantage while Dallas struggled with their shooting. Despite this, Doncic’s seven free throw attempts helped the Mavericks stay close, ending the first quarter down 28-26.
The second quarter continued in favor of the Suns, who quickly extended their lead. The Mavericks had difficulty maintaining consistent scoring and defensive stops, trailing by double digits for most of the period. Dallas’ Lively faced foul trouble, leading Coach Jason Kidd to adjust with Maxi Kleber stepping in. Despite a late push by Doncic, who scored from the free-throw line, the Mavericks finished the half trailing 63-55.
In the third quarter, Dallas faced challenges with their offense, settling for too many outside shots instead of attacking the paint. The game saw a stoppage in play due to a lengthy review, but the Mavericks could not close the gap and entered the fourth quarter down 91-80.
In the final period, Dallas showed some intensity, narrowing the deficit to six points. However, both teams stalled offensively, remaining in a stalemate for several possessions. The Suns capitalized with key three-pointers and plays from Durant, ultimately widening their lead as Dallas struggled to create effective scoring opportunities, leading to the Mavericks’ defeat.
Areas of concern were evident, with Dallas failing to exploit the Suns’ lack of a rim protector, evident in their puzzling shot selection. The Mavericks’ bench contributed only seven points, with players like Naji Marshall struggling significantly, and Maxi Kleber’s injury further hindered their depth.
In a competitive Western Conference, the Mavericks must address their lack of urgency, as every game is critical. The loss highlighted the need for improvement as the season progresses.