Mavericks’ Rally Falls Short in Loss to Suns After Late Foul Call Leads to Game-Winning Free Throw

Mavericks' comeback falls short as late foul sends Suns to the line for game-winning free throw, highlighting Dallas’ slow start and bench struggles in 114-113 loss.

Photo via Nick White

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks narrowly lost to the Phoenix Suns, 114-113, in a matchup that illuminated both the team’s potential and its recurring vulnerabilities. Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks’ comeback efforts in a high-stakes game defined by momentum swings and late-game drama.

Still, a last-second free throw by Jusuf Nurkić ultimately tipped the scales in Phoenix’s favor—a call that was strongly disapproved by the American Airlines Center crowd. For Dallas, the night underscored some familiar problems, particularly slow starts, bench inconsistency, and struggles with defensive rebounding.

Phoenix’s Blistering Start

Phoenix took charge from the outset, racing to a double-digit lead in the first quarter. They hit 8 of their 13 three-point attempts, finishing the quarter shooting an impressive 61.9% from the field.