After initially erasing a 15-point deficit, the Phoenix Suns felt flat in the 4th quarter, resulting in a 128-114 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in a classic Christmas Day rivalry showdown.
Now, for the first time since opening week, the Suns are below .500 as they have lost 9 of their last 13 games and are currently on a three-game skid.
Luka Doncic, leading the Mavericks in the absence of Kyrie Irving, finished with a season-high 50 points, once again silencing the crowd at the Footprint Center. He was also credited with 14 assists and picked up 6 rebounds.
In the 3rd quarter, while the Suns were in the middle of attempting to mount a comeback, Luka missed just one shot in 7 attempts, he scored 12 points alone in the 3rd.
While the Suns did lead by one heading into the final 12 minutes, it was a 15-4 run that the Mavericks started the 4th quarter with that ultimately sealed the deal. In the 4th, the Suns went 0-4 from beyond the arc.
Kevin Durant played a large role in limiting Phoenix’s offensive rhythm on a rough shooting night. Despite averaging more than 30 points per game this season, only 16 points from Durant, including just 4 points in the 2nd half, killed the Suns.
If it were not for Grayson Allen’s 32 points on 8-17 shooting from beyond the arc, including 19 points in the 3rd quarter, Phoenix could have very well suffered an embarrassing blowout.
On a brighter note for the Suns, stepping up with Jusuf Nurkic out, Chimezie Metu off the bench grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds and also tied a career-high with 23 points.
Metu led the Suns to actually have a rebounding advantage over Dallas; unfortunately, poor shooting cost them a win.
Next up for Phoenix is a road matchup against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. Tipoff will be at 6 p.m.
