Suns Handle Mavericks with Ease as Dallas Drops Eighth Straight
The Dallas Mavericks dropped their eighth consecutive game Tuesday night, falling 120-111 to the Phoenix Suns in a game that looked out of reach almost from the opening tip. The final score doesn’t quite capture how lopsided this one felt for most of the night. Phoenix came out with energy and execution; Dallas, on the other hand, looked like a team playing out the string.
Early Struggles Set the Tone
It took the Mavericks nearly six minutes to make their first field goal. That’s not a typo.
Their first bucket came with 6:14 left in the first quarter, courtesy of Max Christie, after a stretch of missed jumpers and empty possessions. Tyus Jones, recently inserted into the starting lineup, struggled to find his rhythm early, missing both of his first two three-point attempts-including an airball that summed up Dallas’ start.
Meanwhile, the Suns wasted no time jumping out to a commanding lead. Dillon Brooks came out firing, scoring 15 points in the first quarter on 7-of-9 shooting-his highest-scoring opening frame of his career.
Jalen Green added nine more off the bench, and Phoenix closed the first quarter up 36-16. Dallas shot just 27.3% from the field in the opening 12 minutes, and their 16-point output marked a season-low for any quarter.
Phoenix Rolls, Dallas Responds (Briefly)
The Suns kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter, pushing the lead to 27 after a smooth give-and-go from Ryan Dunn led to an easy dunk. Phoenix led 47-20 with just over eight minutes left in the half, and it looked like this one might turn into a full-on blowout.
But credit to Dallas for showing some life late in the second quarter. The Mavericks ripped off an 18-1 run to close the gap and head into halftime trailing just 65-48.
Cooper Flagg and Naji Marshall were the catalysts, combining for 27 of Dallas’ 48 first-half points. Flagg in particular showed flashes of the athleticism and scoring touch that’s made him a bright spot in an otherwise dim stretch of basketball for the Mavs.
He finished a fast break with authority late in the half, throwing down a dunk over Brooks to inject some energy into the building-and into his team.
Third Quarter Regression
Whatever momentum Dallas built to end the half didn’t carry over. The Suns reasserted control in the third, methodically rebuilding their lead while Dallas struggled to string together stops or make shots.
By the time Dunn threw down an alley-oop from Isaac Ighodaro to put Phoenix up 96-74, the game felt all but decided. The Suns led 96-75 heading into the fourth.
A Hollow Push Late
The fourth quarter offered a few moments of intrigue, but Phoenix never really let Dallas back into the game. The Suns committed five team fouls in the first four minutes of the quarter, which sent the Mavericks to the free-throw line early and often. Dallas took advantage of the extra trips, but the deficit was too large, and the Suns played just well enough to keep the Mavs at bay.
Marshall scored 11 of his team-high 31 points in the final quarter, and Flagg continued to compete, finishing with 27 points and five rebounds. He hit a tough baseline jumper through contact with nine minutes left to cut the deficit to 13, but that was as close as Dallas would get.
A Team Going Through the Motions
The Mavericks’ effort-or lack thereof-was evident throughout. They were outworked on the glass, giving up 17 offensive rebounds, and turned the ball over 16 times. The fast break numbers were especially telling: Phoenix outscored Dallas 26-10 in transition, a sign of both poor floor balance and lackluster hustle.
Defensive rotations were slow, closeouts were half-hearted, and box-outs were inconsistent. This wasn’t just a bad shooting night-it was a game where Dallas looked disengaged from the jump. The starting lineup reflected a team leaning into developmental minutes, and the execution on both ends made it clear this group is more focused on ping-pong balls than playoff pushes right now.
Shooting Woes Continue
The Mavericks’ three-point shooting was abysmal for most of the night. Through three quarters, they were 1-of-15 from deep.
Marshall finally hit their second triple with 10:40 left in the fourth, and Khris Middleton followed with another on the next possession. But the damage was already done.
Dallas finished 5-of-22 from beyond the arc (22.7%), while Phoenix knocked down 16 threes and outscored the Mavs 48-15 from deep.
Ironically, Dallas had a massive advantage at the free-throw line-44 attempts to Phoenix’s nine-but even that wasn’t enough to close the gap. The Mavs hit 32 of those 44 free throws, but when you’re getting outscored by 33 points from beyond the arc, it’s tough to make up ground.
Flagg Shines in the Gloom
If there’s a silver lining for Dallas, it’s Cooper Flagg. In a game where much of the roster looked flat, Flagg brought energy and efficiency.
He ran the floor hard, attacked the basket with purpose, and showed flashes of the two-way potential that has fans excited about his future. His ability to create in transition and finish through contact was on full display, and he continues to be a bright spot in an otherwise tough stretch for the Mavericks.
Looking Ahead
This loss drops Dallas to 19-34 on the season, and while the math hasn’t eliminated them from postseason contention, the body language and rotations suggest this team is looking toward the future. With the trade deadline approaching and the lottery odds starting to take shape, the Mavericks have some decisions to make.
For now, though, the losing streak continues-and if Tuesday night was any indication, it may not end anytime soon.