Suns vs. Mavericks rating, takeaways: Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson lead Dallas to essential Sport 3 win over Phoenix

The Dallas Mavericks have newfound life of their best-of-seven collection in opposition to the Phoenix Suns following Friday night time’s 103-94 victory in Sport 3 to assist Dallas keep away from what would simply be thought of an insurmountable 3-0 deficit. With the win, the Mavericks now have the chance to even the collection on their residence flooring on Sunday.

Luka Doncic was improbable for Dallas within the win ending the sport with 26 factors, 13 rebounds and 9 assists however he additionally had loads of assist as 4 different Mavericks gamers scored in double figures, led by Jalen Brunson’s game-high 28 factors. On the opposite finish, Phoenix’s complete beginning lineup scored in double figures however they didn’t obtain sufficient help from their bench with the intention to maintain tempo with Dallas. 

We’ll see what occurs subsequent when these two groups meet once more this Sunday. 

Listed here are three key takeaways from the sport:

1. Doncic places on a present with submit footwork

The Suns pulled away from the Mavericks in Sport 2 largely as a result of they attacked Luka Doncic again and again on the defensive finish, and he had no solutions. It was so unhealthy that Doncic obtained known as out by head coach Jason Kidd, who stated he wanted to “take part and play protection.”

Whereas Doncic did not immediately flip into prime Scottie Pippen, he was no less than collaborating on that finish in Sport 3. And in fact, that is greater than sufficient when he is dominating on the offensive facet of the ball. Although hampered by foul hassle at instances, Doncic put collectively one other terrific efficiency on Friday, ending with 26 factors, 13 rebounds, 9 assists and two steals in simply 34 minutes. 

However whereas Doncic usually amazes along with his passing or step-back 3-pointers, he went deep into his bag of methods in Sport 3 and placed on a present along with his submit footwork. He completely cooked Deandre Ayton with a traditional up-and-under:

Then he took Devin Booker into the paint and faked and pivoted his method into one other straightforward bucket:

Eight of Doncic’s 11 discipline targets got here on the rim, as he labored his method inside early and infrequently in Sport 3. Whereas Doncic must play his half on protection, this sport was one other reminder that he makes his cash when he has the ball in his palms. 

2. Brunson, Mavs position gamers step up

The primary two video games of this collection had been the Luka Doncic present for the Mavericks on offense — much more so than regular. He both scored or assisted on 43 of the Mavericks’ 76 discipline targets (56.6 %) in Video games 1 and a pair of. That is spectacular, nevertheless it’s additionally not a recipe for achievement in opposition to a staff as nice because the Suns. 

Dallas wanted its position gamers to step up and supply another offensive choices in the event that they needed an opportunity to get again on this collection. To their credit score, they did precisely that on Friday night time. The bench factors had been pretty even — 18-17 in favor of the Mavericks — however the different starters round Doncic had been terrific. Reggie Bullock, Dorian Finney-Smith and Jalen Brunson all scored in double figures, and mixed for 47 factors. 

Brunson, particularly, was key. He was superior within the first spherical in opposition to the Utah Jazz, carrying the Mavericks on the time in Doncic’s absence. However in opposition to the Suns he had been unable to get something going. That modified in Sport 3, as he got here out aggressive and had 10 factors within the first quarter. He stored that mindset up the remainder of the way in which and completed with 28 factors, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in by far his greatest sport of the collection. 

The Mavericks will want Brunson to hold this over into Sport 4 in the event that they wish to tie the collection. 

3. Paul, Suns off their sport

The Mavericks deserve a variety of credit score for the way they responded in Sport 3. They had been down 2-0 and had been embarrassed at instances in Phoenix through the first two video games. This was a big-time assertion that they weren’t about to lie down and let the Suns stroll throughout them en path to the Western Convention finals. 

On the similar time, we’ve got to acknowledge that this was only a unusual efficiency by the Suns. The primary jiffy went nicely, however after that, they regarded nothing just like the staff that had cruised to a 2-0 collection lead and regarded like the category of the Western Convention. They had been sloppy with the ball, lacking pictures they often make and simply usually appeared out of kinds. 

Nothing epitomized that greater than Chris Paul’s seven turnovers within the first half. He did not have that many turnovers within the first two video games mixed and had by no means had even six turnovers in a half in a playoff sport in his profession. The Mavericks’ protection performed an element, however there have been a bunch of uncharacteristic performs the place Paul simply misplaced the ball or threw an off-target go. 

Within the weirdest second of all, he turned down a wide-open layup to throw a hook go along with his left hand that caught Deandre Ayton fully off guard. 

Once more, the Mavericks received this sport. This is not to remove from what they achieved, however quite to not that it was an odd efficiency from Paul — on his birthday, no much less.