Suns storm past Mavericks for 11th straight win
Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns high fives Reggie Bullock #25 of the Dallas Mavericks folliwing the NBA game at Footprint Center on November 17, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 105-98. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
Mikal Bridges and Devin Booker scored 19 points apiece and Chris Paul added 18 as the Phoenix Suns extended their winning streak to 11 games, beating the visiting Dallas Mavericks 112-104 on Friday.
JaVale McGee had 14 points and Cameron Johnson added 13 for the Suns, who outscored Dallas 33-20 in the fourth quarter.
The Suns’ win streak is the fourth-longest in franchise history and the longest since recording 17 straight in 2006-07.
18 PTS, 14 AST.@CP3 leads the @Suns to 11 wins in a row. pic.twitter.com/rW0RIDLaNc
— NBA (@NBA) November 20, 2021
Luka Doncic (left knee and ankle sprains) missed his second straight game for Dallas, which has lost its last eight meetings against the Suns.
Kristaps Porzingis recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Mavericks. Jalen Brunson had 18 points and 10 assists, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 18 points and Dorian Finney-Smith added 12.
Deandre Ayton grabbed 17 rebounds for Phoenix, which completed a two-game sweep of the Mavericks after winning 105-98 on Wednesday.
The Suns trailed by five before taking control at the start of the fourth quarter. Jae Crowder’s 3-pointer capped a 12-0 run and gave Phoenix a 94-86 lead with 7:29 remaining.
Porzingis made one of his three 3-pointers to cut the deficit to 96-90 before the Suns answered with seven straight points.
Paul had 14 assists for Phoenix, which took a commanding 110-95 lead on Ayton’s dunk with two minutes left. Dallas scored nine of the game’s final 11 points to keep the outcome in doubt in the final minute.
Bridges scored 10 points in the first quarter to help Phoenix to a 27-24 advantage. The Suns extended their lead to eight after Bridges made a pair of free throws to cap an 11-2 run with 3:38 left in the first half.
Bridges made three 3-pointers and scored 17 points in the first half, which featured 15 lead changes and three ties.
Phoenix took a 55-51 lead into the break before Dallas scored 33 points in the third quarter to pull ahead 84-79. The Suns, however, mustered enough down the stretch to move to 12-3 on the season, matching their best record through the first 15 games since 2009-10.
