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

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.

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Tyus Jones, who added 17 points and five assists, and Kevin Durant—who scored a team-high 26 points and 6 rebounds—exploited Dallas’s early defensive lapses. Royce O’Neale came off the bench to hit four quick threes, helping the Suns build a 36-26 lead by the end of the period. O’Neale’s shooting, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, made a significant impact, and his perfect 4-of-4 from beyond the arc gave Phoenix an edge that Dallas spent the rest of the night trying to erase.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd was visibly frustrated with the team’s sluggish start, a recurring issue for Dallas this season. “For whatever reason, we’re getting off to a slow start,” Kidd said. “It’s got to be addressed. We’ve talked about it, but there’s got to be action. Somebody’s got to come with some f—ing energy. We’re f—ing flat.”

Dončić echoed Kidd’s concerns, admitting that the early lack of intensity has been a persistent problem. “Our start was very bad, the same as before,” Dončić said. “We just need to start better every game.”

He emphasized the importance of taking the initiative and setting the tone from the opening minutes, adding, “I can do better, and everybody can do better. We can’t wait around; we need to go out and get it,” Dončić explained. “Teams are coming after us, and we need to have the same mentality we had in the second half from the start.”

Mavericks Battle Back Behind Dončić and Irving

Despite the rocky start, Dallas fought back into the game, propelled by strong performances from its star duo. Luka Dončić delivered a stat line of 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, leading the Mavericks on both ends and orchestrating their offense. Kyrie Irving added 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, and his timely scoring helped ignite a third-quarter run that kept Dallas within striking distance.

In the third quarter, Dallas made its most significant push, going on a 21-8 run that temporarily gave them a 73-71 lead. Dončić was instrumental in this comeback, making critical plays to shift momentum.

Dončić reflected on the team’s resilience in the second half and said, “We fought hard in the second half. But we need to bring that same mentality to the first half—it starts with me. We’ve got to come out with that mentality from the very beginning.”

Irving was relentless in scoring bursts, getting buckets in isolation and on pull-up shots, giving the Mavericks the spark they needed to chip away at Phoenix’s lead. However, the heavy reliance on Dončić and Irving was apparent.

Kidd acknowledged that the duo’s extended minutes played over 40 are not a sustainable strategy for long-term success.“The fatigue of running Luka and Kai 40-something minutes is tough because our bench stinks right now,” Kidd said, emphasizing the need for production from other players. “As deep as we are, we’ve got to get someone to f—ing participate off the bench. Somebody has to join the party to help Kai and Luka, and that’s just not happening right now.”

When asked if fatigue played a factor in his 42-minute night, Dončić was unfazed. “No, I can play 42 anytime,” he stated confidently.

Bench Struggles and Depth Issues

Phoenix’s bench outperformed Dallas’s reserves considerably, outscoring them 28-9. Royce O’Neale stood out for Phoenix, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including his four first-quarter threes that set the tone early. Conversely, the Mavericks struggled to find reliable support beyond their starters, with 9 points from the bench. Kidd’s frustration with his secondary unit was evident, and he made it clear that depth is becoming a pressing concern as the season progresses.

With O’Neale alone doubling the Mavericks’ bench in scoring, the Suns received 13 or more points from each of their starters. Devin Booker shot only 5-of-13 from the floor and 1-of-8 from deep as the Suns’ lowest-scoring starter but grabbed 6 boards and dished out 12 assists. Bradley Beal, who didn’t play in the first meeting between these two teams, added 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Spencer Dinwiddie totaled 28 minutes off the bench and ended with 3 points, 2 assists, and 1 steal. He only attempted two shots on the night. Dwight Powell played 25 minutes off the bench, ending with 4 points and 6 rebounds. Nobody else reached the 10-minute threshold, with Quentin Grimes being one short. Kidd even put out Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Kessler Edwards for a few minutes.

Kyrie Irving also weighed in on the importance of bench contributions, particularly in close games. “In basketball, being a role player is one of the toughest jobs because you have to accept your role and stay consistent,” Irving said. “When you’re coming off the bench and only playing 10, 15, 20 minutes, you’ve got to make the most of it. You don’t always have the same room for error as other players.”

One bright spot in this game was Naji Marshall, who finished with 18 points and 5 rebounds, whose versatility has quickly made an impression on Dončić. “He’s great. He can do a lot of things and is very helpful to us,” Dončić said. “He’s still new to the team, so we’re getting comfortable around him, but he’s making a big impact.”

Rebounding Woes in the Clutch

As the game entered its final minutes, rebounding became the defining factor, especially on the defensive end. Down by two with under a minute left, Dallas tied the game at 113-all with a lob dunk from Dončić to Daniel Gafford, who ended the night with 15 points and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes.

But with just seconds remaining, O’Neale drove the lane and missed a floater. Nurkić, however, grabbed the offensive rebound and drew a foul from Gafford in the process. After a review confirmed that the foul occurred before the buzzer, Nurkić hit one of two free throws to put Phoenix up by one. Dončić’s final desperation shot from beyond half-court failed, sealing the game in Phoenix’s favor.

Kidd emphasized that rebounding has been an issue for Dallas all season, noting that the Mavericks’ smaller lineups must compensate with toughness and grit on the boards. “That’s just been something all season for us,” Kidd said. “We can’t rebound the ball. At a crucial time, also. We’re just coming up short right now.”

Dallas finished with only 37 rebounds compared to Phoenix’s 39, but the 11 offensive boards surrendered by the Mavericks, especially the final one to Nurkić underscored their rebounding struggles. Injuries to key rebounders Dereck Lively II (right shoulder sprain) and P.J. Washington (right knee sprain) have further exposed this vulnerability. Neither player has a clear timetable for a return.

Irving also acknowledged the importance of rebounding, especially when the Mavericks go small, and stressed the need for greater awareness and communication in such situations. “When we go small, we need to be aware and communicate more, especially against teams with players who like to crash the boards,” Irving said.

Dallas’s inability to secure defensive rebounds in critical moments became a glaring weakness that Phoenix exploited effectively. Despite this, the Mavericks faced a one-point deficit with 0.8 seconds on the clock to take the final shot but took a difficult, off-balance three-point attempt that fell short. However, while the shot was challenging, Dončić knew he had to get a shot off before the buzzer.

After the final shot, Dončić commented, “With 0.8 seconds on the clock, it’s tough to get a perfect look. Maybe I could have stopped at the three-point line to create more separation, but you can always try to get a better shot.”

A Surprising 5-4 Record with Recurring Issues

Kidd’s frustration with the Mavericks’ recurring issues was evident in his postgame remarks. He noted the need for consistent energy and effort beyond slow starts, rebounding problems, and bench inconsistency. While he acknowledged the absences of Lively, Washington, and Maxi Kleber, he emphasized that these were not valid excuses for the team’s poor execution and lack of grit.

“We’re small, so we got to be gritty,” Kidd said. “We got to be physical. But right now, the ball is bouncing the other way.” Kidd highlighted that the team’s energy and effort are aspects they can control, and he challenged his players to bring more intensity. “The one thing you can control is your effort and energy, and right now, our energy is low, and we got to be better with that,” he added.

After closing out a five-game homestand with a 2-3 record, the Mavericks now sit at 5-4 on the season. Reflecting on the season, Irving acknowledged the need for more consistency as a unit.

“We go into every game expecting to win, so losing is always a bit of a surprise until you reflect on it,” Irving said. “Basketball is a rhythm game, and we just haven’t found that consistent flow yet. We show flashes of it—we’ve been down by 20-plus points to teams and managed to come back somewhat. Now it’s about how we start and finish games.”

Looking Ahead to a Challenging Road Trip

With this homestand behind them, the Mavericks now embark on a three-game road trip starting Sunday against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Following that, Dallas will face the Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz in a stretch that will test their ability to address some of the recurring issues seen early this season.

Kidd’s message was clear: the Mavericks must improve their energy at the start of games, shore up their rebounding efforts, and find dependable production from their bench if they hope to compete in a challenging Western Conference.

For Dallas, this game served as both a reminder of their capabilities and a wake-up call to resolve persistent issues. As Dončić said, “We’ve got to come out with that mentality from the very beginning.”

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