« We lost a few balloons, poorly defended on several possessions and they regained the momentum. Rick Carlisle does well to talk about this “momentum”, which his team missed in the dying moments. In this duel between two teams in recovery at the moment, with one more absent mark on each side (Devin Booker and Kristaps Porzingis), each had the right to a big highlight, modeled on the rise in speed in its leader.
So let’s take the start of the third quarter. After a perfectly balanced first period (55-55), Luka Doncic offers us a small festival. An alley-oop lob towards Dorian Finney-Smith, a 3-point basket stopping in first intention in transition, an “up and under” movement near the circle in front of Deandre Ayton, a floater…
The big passage of Mavs and Luka Doncic
The Slovenian scored 18 of his 29 points in this period. And with him, Dallas inflicts a severe 17-2 to fly to the score (70-57). Phoenix went four minutes without scoring a single point. But once the storm has passed, the Suns calmly get back to work. A few “jumpers” from Mikal Bridges, several finishes in the circle of Deandre Ayton and above all a number of free throws obtained and converted allow Phoenix to get back together.
We will also underline the difference in faults caused by the Suns, causing the premature exits of the two pivots opposite, Willie Cauley-Stein, very close to the double-double, and Dwight Powell. Phoenix thus obtains 31 passages on the line in this match, including 13 for the only Chris Paul who draws almost as much as all the opposing team.
At the start of the last act, Dallas has already lost part of its lead (82-77). The debates are balanced in the minutes which follow but one feels well that Chris Paul is gradually putting his hand on the match. He distributes everything in the transition game and also sanctions behind the arc in first intention.
16 points of “CP3” to finish
Cauley-Stein is going to counter Bridges at the circle? No problem, “CP3” has a little “fadeaway” to ensure the mark. Pass or finish, Chris Paul is involved in almost every possessions the Suns have made. A new lob towards his pivot Ayton, author of a big double-double, then a laser pass towards the soldier Jae Crowder at 3-point, and here is that Phoenix inflicts a 9-0 (96-105) in this “money time” », Without Dallas reacting.
Chris Paul just has to finish the job on the pitch line. He has just scored 16 of his 27 points and distributed 5 of his 12 assists in this final period. The change of “momentum” in favor of the Suns, it is thanks to him!
Second victory in a row for the Suns (10v-8d) who find color after a bad pass. The Mavs (8v-12d), they remain in the hard. The two teams play again Monday in the same room.
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