The stage was set for the Dallas Mavericks to increase their slim lead over the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference standings.
A Sunday matinee on national television. A matchup between two possible Play-In teams separated by just 2.5 games. Not to mention, the game was an opportunity for the Mavericks to snap a four-game losing streak.
In ordinary circumstances, this would be a dream matchup for basketball fans. However, the battered and bruised Mavericks lacked the star power needed to compete with a nearly healthy Suns squad. The result was a 125-116 loss and the Mavericks increased their skid to five, matching the longest losing streak of the season.
With the loss, the Suns are now just one game behind the Mavericks in the loss column for 10th in the West. The Mavs are also below .500 for the first time since Nov. 16.
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The Mavericks lacked size with their trio of big men sidelined and Phoenix chose to exploit that weakness. The Suns outrebounded the Mavs 46-32 and scored 68 points in the paint. The Suns’ Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combined for 64 points.
With no true number one option on offense, the Mavericks relied on Naji Marshall for scoring. He led the Mavericks with a career-high 34 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists. Coming off career-highs of 29 points and 17 rebounds on Wednesday, the quality production was a sign that Marshall could emerge as the focal point of Jason Kidd’s offense in the final quarter of the season.
Klay Thompson added 26 points, but struggled to find a groove until late in the game. He made five of his 14 attempts from beyond the arc. Brandon Williams followed up his breakout game against the Memphis Grizzlies with 11 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Booker led the Suns with 24 points and six assists. Durant added 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Beal finished with 19 points and six assists on 7-of-10 shooting.
The Mavericks lost the season series to the Suns 2-1 and are in danger of falling out of the Play-In picture.
The Mavericks didn’t escape Sunday’s game without more injuries.
Late in the third quarter, two-way forward Kessler Edwards collided with Dwight Powell after the two went for a loose ball. Edwards, who serves as the Mavericks’ starting center, went to the locker room. Powell’s head began to bleed and he was escorted to the bench. The team’s medical staff attempted to stop the blood seeping from his head, but Powell was eventually escorted to the locker room and did not return to the game.
Related:Kessler Edwards returns after brief exit in Mavs-Suns; Brandon Williams ruled out late
Edwards, with a bandage over his left eye, returned to the Mavs’ bench with a bandage over his left eye. He finished with 10 points and three rebounds.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks announced that Brandon Williams left the game with left hamstring tightness, leaving the Mavericks with just seven healthy bodies.
The Mavericks are already without Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, Kyrie Irving, Jaden Hardy and Olivier-Maxence Prosper. Depending on the severity of the team’s latest injury misfortune, they could be even more shorthanded for Monday’s game in San Antonio.
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