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The Mavericks couldn’t have asked for a better chance of showing that they had captured their greatest demon from last season.
It was Chris Paul and Devin Booker who were making the key games for Phoenix in the recent possessions when the Mavericks let go of a game that was less than two minutes ahead of them. The Suns scored six of the last eight points and scored a 106-102 win at the Phoenix Suns Arena on Wednesday night.
The Mavericks had relied on improved defenses for most of the night, but their legendary offensive last season was lacking until Luka Dončić and Jalen Brunson rallied 12 points back in a fourth quarter rally.
Coach Rick Carlisle said the Mavericks struggled uphill in the second half after falling double-digit by the end of the first half.
« We tied it once or twice and had one opportunity or another to take the lead and couldn’t do it, » he said. “That was disappointing because I thought we fought really hard on these tracks.
« Winning and losing at this year’s Western Conference means focusing on the details, and there are just a few things we just need to do better. ”
Nobody was more angry about the goal than Dončić, who finished with 32 points but only shot 11 of 26 out of the field and was not happy with his decision in the last few moments.
« Certainly attack the color, » said Dončić when asked what should be done better on the track. “That was my bad. I have to stop taking these very bad shots. It wasn’t just the last. There were a few.
« It’s not good for me. It’s not good for the team. And I have to change it. We attacked the color really well in the second half. And we should just keep doing that. ”
The Mavericks tied the game at 96 after Brunson found Willie Cauley Stein for a simple bucket, and again at 100 after two free throws from Dončić. Booker made one of two free throws, and after Maxi Kleber missed a 3-pointer, Paul hit a 16-foot.
At that moment, Dončić missed a 3-pointer, which was measured at more than 26 feet. Booker then made an 18-foot can and the Suns were between 105 and 100 and had enough gas to reach the finish line.
Last season, the Mavericks were 17 to 24 years old, which the NBA defines as clutch games that have a spread of five points or less in the last five minutes.
« Definitely a chance for us, » said Brunson, who had all 12 points in the fourth quarter. “When it was 96 we were pretty confident. Apparently a couple of things happened. Book hit a shot. Someone else hit a three. As I said, this is a first step. We will do it right. We have no other choice. ”
The Mavericks must have done some positive things. They even survived a little fear when Dončić seemed to trip over his own foot while running down the courtyard in traffic. He hobbled away for a moment, but said there wasn’t a sprained ankle after the game and no ankle problem that was going on for the Los Angeles Christmas Day game against the Lakers.
Carlisle wasn’t concerned about Luke 6-0 starting gun and the fact that he only had five assists in more than 35 minutes.
« He still has his free legs under him, » he said. “That will get there. But he understands the game as well as any 21 year old I’ve ever seen. He will make the necessary adjustments. ”
The start of the 0-1 season looks a bit worse considering the upcoming games in LA. After the Lakers, they play the Clippers on Sunday. These two teams are the leading favorites to win the Western Conference.
The fact that the Mavericks will play the Lakers on Christmas Day is a good sign that the Mavericks are firmly back on the NBA’s radar. Much of that is thanks to Luka, although he said:
« It’s a long way to go to become one of the faces of the league. But we play the champions. It will be something special. I always wanted to play on Christmas Day. ”
It gives him and the Mavericks a chance to get rid of the nasty aftertaste of the season opener.
« We have to look at this and really study ourselves and see the things we need to clean up, » Carlisle said. « And then we have to do a study of the Lakers to find out which matchups and covers are best for us defensively. « . Look, these are the world champions. We’re obviously going to have to play a high-level game. ”
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Dallas Mavericks, Luka Dončić, Kristaps Porziņģis and Phoenix Suns
World news – USA – Mavs lose the season opener
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