GAME 65: PHX (36-29) vs. DAL (33-32) | 130-126 loss

[SleepingHero]

[Mavs2021]

Luka: I know bro. It´s hard to find skilled people around here. Just don´t leave me like Jalen.

[Chicagojk]

Today should be a fun and exciting game.  But it will be a tough battle.

There is talk the Suns lost a ton of wing depth with the trade.  They did.  But how KD took it on himself to take Luka earlier in the year on D really sticks with me.  He was fabulous and they almost came back and won.

In addition, the suns have done well to build around the fringes.  I really wish the Mavs were better at this.  Josh Okogie was a former first round pick who they got for peanuts who has outperformed his contract and has been playing well as a starter.  Tory Craig and Ish wainwright are solid deep bench physical players. Jock Landale and Damien Lee have been respectable and they picked up a low cost gamble in Bazley at the trade deadline.

[DrMav]

First Kyrie and Durant post-divorce meeting, time to score a personal victory for KI and an actual one for all our guys. Must win game.

[Chicagojk]

Maxi is out today, but Bertans is back

[SleepingHero]

https://twitter.com/coopmavs/status/1632430976948117505

[color=var(--text-link)]https://twitter.com/GrantAfseth/status/1632416209000968193?s=20[/color]

[Mavs2021]

Okogie should be a MLE target this summer. Should have been a target before, but eh Mavs things.

[Mavs2021]

Mavs up 5. Kidd: This is going too well. Suns look uncomfortable shooting, let´s bring back -10 Powell. Yay.

[dirkfansince1998]

Kyrie + Luka combined 19pts, 5/16 FG, 5 tov

Doesn´t get much worse.

THJ 5/6 from 3, 18pts

Doesn´t get much better

[Mavs2021]

This game feels good. A throwback to 15 years ago, when the refs always had to f*** us over at the FT line to keep the game close in the 3rd for entertainment purposes.

[SwisherPrice]

Mavs in trouble if this scrub Wainright is draining threes

[Chicagojk]

Fun game.  Suns are going to be trouble in playoffs.

Mavs got to hope Okogie keeps shooting threes.  Suns got to hope Luka keeps shooting threes.

Not a good finish of the third.  Couple of turnovers and good open three looks from Phx.

[LifeAquatic]

More pace and their defense improves again. The slowodown ISO-ball at the end of third hurt them on both ends.

[SwisherPrice]

Same inbounding play coming up again...and if they don't turn it over then it will be another desperation three

[BigDirk41]

Another awesome moral victory. Just as good as the real thing

[LifeAquatic]

Would have been worth it to deck Booker. Luka lives in his head, you can see it.

[BigDirk41]

I am at least glad that Luka went to the bucket even though he choked.

[speedkilz88]

I think Luka saw a chance there to try and force a technical on Booker.  He was smiling when he was faced up.  He just didn't get the call the way he hoped.

[BigDirk41]

This team is fun to watch but they are absolutely horrible in the last few minutes of games and to me that's coaching.

[Chicagojk]

Fun game.  The offense was incredible.

It just seems like in these games recently, the Mavs either don't make a play or the other team makes a play.  Game of inches.

I guess there was a big out of bounds that PHX got the ball that may have been off PHX.  That lead to a three point shot by PHX.  Add Luka's miss and some great shot making and Dallas came up just short.

Both teams looked legit though.  PHX probably has more ways to win games but a great effort by both teams.