The Phoenix Suns took down the short-handed Dallas Mavericks 125-116 on Sunday night, keeping their postseason hopes alive in the Western Conference.
After the game, Devin Booker acknowledged the absence of Luka Doncic, who was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers last month. “You can feel it,” Booker said, per NBA insider Marc Stein. “You can feel it when you land.”
Booker led Phoenix with 24 points, while Kevin Durant added 21 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Bradley Beal contributed 19 points as the Suns closed the gap in the standings, moving within 1.5 games of the Mavericks for the final play-in spot.
Grayson Allen finished with 17 points, and Mason Plumlee provided a spark with 13 points, including five dunks. The Suns shot 58% from the field and pulled away with a 37-32 edge in the third quarter.
Naji Marshall set a career high with 34 points and 10 assists for Dallas, marking his second straight game setting a personal best. Klay Thompson added 26 points, but the Mavericks struggled to keep pace with Phoenix’s efficient offense.
The game turned late in the first quarter when Booker knocked down a jumper to spark a 19-2 Suns run. Phoenix flipped a four-point deficit into a double-digit lead and never looked back.
Dallas, already dealing with injuries, saw its roster shrink even further when Kessler Edwards and Dwight Powell collided in the third quarter. Powell left the game with a bleeding forehead and did not return.
Brandon Williams also exited in the second half with hamstring tightness, leaving the Mavericks with just seven available players. With Kyrie Irving out for the season, Dallas has now lost five straight games, matching its longest skid of the year.
The Mavericks, who were 26-24 at the time of Doncic’s trade, have gone 6-9 since moving their franchise player. The February 2 deal sent Doncić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick.
The trade, which also involved the Utah Jazz, stunned the NBA, marking the first time two reigning All-NBA players were swapped midseason.
Without Doncic, the Mavericks have struggled to find consistency, dropping below .500 for the first time since mid-November. Meanwhile, the Suns are gaining momentum as the playoff race heats up.
