The Phoenix Suns (31-22) welcomed the Dallas Mavericks (19-33) on Tuesday night at Mortgage Matchup Center.
The Suns were coming off back-to-back losses to Philadelphia and Golden State, but Dallas was riding a seven-game losing streak.
The Suns sat seventh in the Western Conference, while Dallas sat 12th in the West.
The Suns were pushing for a playoff spot, while Dallas was spiraling, needed a run to even get into the play-ins.
The Suns were without Grayson Allen (knee), but considering their early injury struggles, this wasn’t the worst-case scenario.
As for Dallas, they were without Dereck Lively (foot) and Kyrie Irving (knee).
To make things worse, Klay Thompson (rest) was on Game-Time Decision.
Even then, Dallas still had Cooper Flagg, who led the team in points with 20.3 points per game in his rookie year.
He also had some help, as P.J. Washington led the team in rebounds with 7.1 rebounds per game alongside 14.1 PPG.
As for the Suns, they had Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, who both averaged 21+ PPG, alongside Jalen Green.
“I think they’ve taken his personality,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said regarding Brooks. “Complete on the defensive end, they pick you up full court. They’re a top 10 defense; they turn you over if you don’t take care of the ball. They’ve adopted that.”
Booker led the team in points as he averaged 25.3 PPG.
Despite Booker being healthy, Suns head coach Jordan Ott made it clear he was going to play it safe with Green.
“We’ll stick to a target range,” Ott said regarding Green. “I think when you’ve been out that long, something we’re super mindful of. Try to put him in a good place but we’re super mindful of how he is feeling, how he’s moving.”
It also helped that center Mark Williams was averaging 12.3 PPG alongside 8.1 RPG, which could give them an advantage around the rim.
“We got to be able to box those guys out,” Kidd said. “Keep them off the boards, understanding that we got to kick the ball out of the paint. But those guys, we do have to be accountable.”
Even though Phoenix was playing back-to-back games, the NBA All-Star Games were right around the corner, giving many NBA players would get a week off, except for Booker and a few others around the league.
Booker was deemed an All-Star player a few weeks prior, alongside participating in the 3-point contest.
Despite that, the Suns were more focused on the game, and containing Flagg, who was first in the rookie of the year race.
“It starts right off the bat,” Ott said regarding Flagg. “Right off in transition if we don’t get back. He’s so big, he’s so strong. He’s able to get to the rim obviously his jump shot has improved, it’s going to have to be multiple bodies, multiple different matchups.”
Before the game, however, Thompson was ruled out for Dallas.
Entering the second quarter, Phoenix looked to close the game as early as possible, sprinting to a 36-16 lead.
Naji Marshall led Dallas in points with six points, while Flagg followed with five points and three rebounds.
It didn’t help that the Mavericks were 0-for-9 from downtown throughout the first and 6-for-22 overall.
“Everyone needs to be a threat,” Ott said. “Everyone needs to be a threat on the floor, really on both sides. You don’t want something even defensively to where there’s a crack. Everyone has to be able to guard the basketball and feel supported defensively. Offensively, it’s the same. This is a hard game.”
As for the Suns, Green had nine points while Booker had six points, but it was Brooks leading the charge with 15 points.
“Great start,” Ott said regarding Brooks. “He’s just kind of getting it out flow, just overall, I thought our intent and purpose early was pretty good on both ends. It’s just connected, you make shots, you’re able to get your defense set.”
Entering the second half, Phoenix led 65-48 but led by as much as 31 points at one point.
Brooks had gone quiet, grabbing only two points in the quarter, but the bench made up most of the minutes, including Oso Ighodaro, who had five points, five rebounds, and four assists.
As for the Mavericks, Flagg had 15 points entering the second quarter, while Marshall followed with 12 points.
Entering the fourth, the Suns were looking to put the game away as they were up 96-75.
Despite the Mavericks taking 30 more free-throws than the Suns, it was the three-point line that was the true factor, as Phoenix had made 14 more threes than Dallas.
“Everyone in the arena felt it,” Ott said regarding the free-throw differential. “That’s stoppage of play, it’s all connected. You don’t get to blow the whistle and sub units out quite like football. It’s all connected. It was frustrating for everyone.”
Flagg had 22 points for Dallas, while Marshall trailed with 20 points. Meanwhile, no one else had broken double-digit points for the Mavericks.
Brooks led the way in scoring with 19 points, while Booker followed with 16 points.
Royce O’Neale and Green had 12 points for good measure.
“The first stint, I think, was really good,” Ott said regarding Green. “Just with the second unit. We’re going to have to go through some growing pains, because it’s kind of been Collin’s (Gillespie) unite for such a long time. Grayson (Allen) was involved in that at times. We just need more movement with that group.”
With seven minutes to go, the Suns held a 12-point lead, but considering how much time was left, it was too early to celebrate, especially since Dallas had been chipping away at the lead.
With four minutes left, Dallas managed to cut it to a nine-point lead as they looked to complete their comeback.
With two minutes left, it was 115-109 to Phoenix.
“You take anything you can get,” Ott said. “Especially when you come out of it with a win, whatever it takes. Even though at times it just doesn’t feel great. We knew that they would start making something at the rim but found a way down the stretch, Booker got to his sports and got enough stops to win.”
Dallas tried to take the game away, but Phoenix hung on, winning 120-111.
Marshall finished with 31 points for the Mavericks, while Flagg followed behind him with 27 points.
As for the Suns, Brooks led the way with 23 points, while Booker followed him with 19 points.
Ighodaro finished with a double-double, grabbing 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Williams nearly grabbed his own double-double, finishing with 13 points and eight rebounds.
The Suns jump to 32-22 while the Mavericks fall to 19-34.
The Suns will host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday at Mortgage Matchup Center.