Thursday may have not lived up to the hype that normally circulates about the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Devin Booker (groin) and Luka Doncic (ankle) were both out of the competition, lessening the highlight reels to come.
Still, both teams had role players that took their game to a different level, leading to a low-scoring, close matchup going into the fourth quarter.
It was the Mavericks that were able to put another win on their side in the rivalry, winning 99-95 in the final seconds.
Chris Paul Puts up a Double-Double
Though Paul isn’t the same flashy 20-year that pushed the tempo on a nightly basis, he made sure to be that against Dallas.
Paul was in vintage mode, as he put up 22 points and 10 assists on the night. Paul also had six rebounds, while going 9-of-16 from the floor.
With no Cameron Payne, Paul’s return as an offensive orchestrator is a sigh of relief.
Deandre Ayton’s Big Night On the Boards
Much was expected of Ayton against the Mavs on Thursday. Dallas was without Christian Wood, leaving a huge hole in the paint on both ends of the floor.
Ayton was able to achieve half of that feat, as he grabbed 20 rebounds on the night, nearly doubling his season average.
Still, his luck on shot selection became bothersome as the game progressed. Against a smaller lineup, Ayton opted for hook shots on majority of his shots. The end result was going 6-of-20 from the field. He was, however, able to put up 19 points on the night.
Spencer Dinwiddie Crushes Dreams
Dinwiddie was once reveled as a go-to scorer during his time with the Brooklyn Nets. He brought a vintage performance to the Footprint Center on Thursday.
Dinwiddie spearheaded the Mavs, scoring at least 10 points in each quarter. He went to another level in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with 36 points on 10-of-18 shooting.
Dinwiddie also added nine assists and six rebounds to his performance. He was a plus-9 during his playing time as well.
