Torrid Suns keep things ‘interesting’ against Mavs, move to 8-1

On this event, it required 5 factors by middle Jusuf Nurkic within the last 58 seconds — together with the go-ahead free throw with 0.8 on the clock — and sweating out Dallas Mavericks celebrity Luka Doncic’s try from the half-court emblem.

Doncic’s high-arcing 38-footer fell quick, and the Phoenix Suns escaped the American Airways Heart with a 114-113 victory Friday evening.

The Suns improved to 8-1 general and 7-0 in video games which can be inside 5 factors within the last 5 minutes. The Suns prolonged their successful streak to seven video games, the final three of which Phoenix’s opponent has had the ball on the ultimate possession with the possibility to tie or take the lead.

“A win is a win, man,” stated Nurkic, who had 15 factors and 10 rebounds, together with a go-ahead putback dunk with 31 seconds remaining and one other offensive board earlier than drawing the foul to ship him to the road for the winner. “I do not actually care if it is [by] one level or 35. So long as you retain successful, that is nice, as a result of that is one of the simplest ways to be taught. Not by means of the losses. But in addition, it is good for followers too. They’re betting, all these things, so good luck with them determining how we will do it.”

Phoenix is tied for first place within the Western Convention with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, however the two groups have taken drastically totally different routes to their 8-1 data. In accordance with ESPN Analysis, the Suns have the second-lowest level differential of any staff in NBA historical past that has gained at the very least eight of its first 9 video games, having outscored their opponents by a complete of 30 factors. The Thunder are the primary staff to win eight of their first 9 video games by double-digit margins.

The 1997-98 Atlanta Hawks and 2001-02 Milwaukee Bucks are the one different groups in NBA historical past to file seven clutch wins of their first 9 video games of the season. The Suns have outscored opponents by 29 factors in 32 clutch minutes this season.

“We’re preserving it attention-grabbing to say the least,” stated Suns level guard Tyus Jones, who had 17 factors and 5 assists in opposition to the Mavericks.

“Man, it is identical to we won’t keep away from them proper now,” Suns star Kevin Durant stated of video games that go all the way down to the wire. “It is good follow for us to know how powerful it’s to play on this surroundings, tight video games on street, stuff like that’s good for us early within the season. Taking part in in opposition to a staff that is confirmed, that is been to the Finals. They obtained large aspirations for his or her staff as effectively, so it was a great win for us.”

The Suns, the NBA’s worst fourth-quarter staff throughout a disappointing 49-win marketing campaign final season, jumped out to a double-digit lead within the first half in Dallas however needed to rally from a six-point deficit through the fourth quarter.

Durant completed with a team-high 26 factors, highlighted by a pair of pull-up 3-pointers that helped the Suns keep inside putting distance down the stretch whereas Kyrie Irving (29 factors) went on a scoring flurry, getting buckets on three straight possessions. That 79-second sequence reminded Durant of the pickup video games the previous Brooklyn Nets teammates performed in opposition to one another whereas he was rehabbing from his Achilles harm through the 2020 offseason.

“It introduced again plenty of reminiscences,” Durant stated. “I miss being round him, so it is at all times good to compete in opposition to him.”

This was the second time this season that Durant’s Suns obtained one of the best of Irving’s Mavericks. Phoenix’s 114-102 residence win over Dallas on Oct. 26 is the Suns’ lone victory to be determined by greater than six factors.

“We’re not anticipating to be in these conditions each recreation, however the extra, the higher, to be sincere,” stated Durant, who leads the league with 35 clutch factors. “As a result of that is often how it’s within the playoffs. It is often how it’s on the finish of the season while you’re making an attempt to place your self in good place for seeding. So the extra we get extra snug in these conditions, the higher it’s going to be.”