PHOENIX – The struggles without Devin Booker continue to mount for the Phoenix Suns as they suffered their fourth loss in the past five games, falling to the Luka Dončić-less Dallas Mavericks 98-89.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Despite a 14-point second quarter by the Suns (15-15), Kevin Durant racked up 35 points and three rebounds. Royce O’Neale ended with 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks while Bradley Beal contributed with 11 points, four assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block.
Starting with 12 points in the first quarter, Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks (20-11) with 20 by shooting 6-for-21 (28.6%) from the field and 5-for-10 (50%) from 3.
Here are the main takeaways from the Suns returning to .500 after another defeat:
-For the fourth straight game, Booker (left groin soreness) was sidelined after exiting the Suns’ loss to the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 19. Bol Bol (left knee contusion) and Grayson Allen (concussion protocol) both remained out as well.
-Sustaining a left calf strain on Christmas, Dončić did not play for the Mavericks and is reportedly set to miss a month. Dante Exum (right wrist surgery) and Dereck Lively II (left hip contusion) were also inactive.
-Showing up for some Friday night basketball, Phoenix Mercury legends Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor were both in attendance at Footprint Center. A current free agent, Taurasi has yet to announce whether she is retiring from the WNBA or returning for another year.
Phoenix Mercury legends Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor are both in the house for the Suns vs. the Dallas Mavericks!@BurnCityMercury #SunsUp #NBA #MFFL pic.twitter.com/fqfITvHUL8
— Burn City Suns ☀️ (@BurnCitySuns) December 28, 2024
-Creating a 14-4 run to begin the game, Irving was a red-hot 3-for-3 from 3, quickly adapting to Dončić’s absence.
-Following a timeout by the Suns, Phoenix quickly formulated an 8-0 run of its own and minimized the large deficit to three, 28-25 at the end of the first frame. Nine of Durant’s 35 points came in the initial 12 minutes.
-Being a reliable source of offensive production for Phoenix, Josh Okogie played aggressively on both offense and defense. Exerting a high level of energy in the 110-100 win over the Denver Nuggets on Christmas, Okogie gave anyone he tightly guarded nearly no room to maneuver. The forward gathered eight points and five rebounds on Friday against the Mavericks.
-Initiating himself as a dangerous force in the paint, Daniel Gafford drove to the basket and was not going to be denied. Gafford notched 16 points, five rebounds, one assist and two blocks.
Dec 27, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) dunks the ball against Phoenix Suns center Mason Plumlee (22) during the fourth quarter at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
-Providing another scoring option for Dallas off the bench, Maxi Kleber was persistent with being open around the perimeter and not being afraid of crashing the glass. The German posted 15 points and seven rebounds for the Mavericks.
-Dominating the Suns, the Mavericks put on a clinic in the second quarter. Limiting Phoenix to just 14 points in the period, Dallas extended its lead to 55-39 courtesy of eight points by Gafford.
-After a complete team victory on Wednesday, the Suns were not distributing the ball nearly as much and tended towards individualism on offense. As a result, Phoenix shot a woeful 15-for-45 (33.3%) from the field and 7-for-20 (35%) from 3 before halftime.
-Going scoreless in the first half, Jusuf Nurkić contributed on defense but overall was struggling to get in a rhythm before a wild sequence occurred. Having a fiery altercation with Naji Marshall, Nurkić slapped his cheek before Marshall returned a punch to Nurkić’s face. As Nurkić took the punch, P.J. Washington pushed Nurkić to the ground. All three players involved were ejected.
-With Nurkić out for the rest of the game, Mason Plumlee and rookie Oso Ighodaro assumed the center duties. Dividing up the minutes, Plumlee had four points and nine rebounds while Ighodaro stacked up four points and three rebounds.
-Scoring 20-plus points in seven straight games, Durant continues to be Phoenix’s No. 1 option without Booker. Shooting from practically anywhere, the 14-time NBA All-Star tallied four points and three rebounds against Dallas.
-Receiving larger roles with Dončić unavailable, Spencer Dinwiddie’s two-way game was on full display and gave the Suns issues on both ends. Logging in 23 minutes with 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals, Dinwiddie was an underrated Maverick all game long.
-After a horrid second quarter and the confrontation, Phoenix clawed back within six points but just couldn’t get over the hump and take a lead. Besides Durant, only Beal and O’Neale reached double-digit points for the Suns.
Dec 27, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) and Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (42) go for a rebound during the third quarter at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
-A low-scoring affair between both teams, the Mavericks were 35-of-80 from the field (43.8%) and 12-of-34 (35.3%) from behind the arch. On the other hand, the Suns went 32-for-83 (38.6%) throughout the game and 13-for-35 (37.1%) from deep.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Suns, ASU Athletics and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
