No Luka, no party: Booker and the Suns eclipse Porzingis-led Mavs for 10th straight win / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AP-Scanpix Credit AP-Scanpix

Jae Crowder broke a tie by sinking two free throws with 2:34 remaining and Deandre Ayton slammed home a Chris Paul assist 67 seconds later, helping the host Phoenix Suns (11-3) out finish the Luka Doncic-less Dallas Mavericks (9-5) for a 105-98 (25-22, 20-24, 23-27, 37-25) victory Wednesday night.

Player of the Game EFF 26 Deandre Ayton Points 19 Accuracy 9-13 Rebounds 13 Assists 2

The Suns earned their 10th consecutive win while Dallas lost for just the second time in seven games.

Doncic was scratched from the lineup during the day when the Mavericks made a decision to give his sore left knee and ankle some time to heal. He is unlikely to play in the rematch with the Suns on Friday.

The tightly contested matchup had 19 lead changes, including six after a Devin Booker layup put Phoenix in front 87-86 with 5:32 remaining.

Jalen Brunson's layup with 2:42 to go produced the game's seventh and final tie, after which Crowder ignited the Suns' fast finish after getting fouled by Kristaps Porzingis on a shot attempt.

Booker's 3-pointer with 50.2 seconds remaining iced the victory.

Booker led six Suns in double figures with 24 points on a night when Phoenix overcame 50 percent 3-point shooting by the Mavericks and a 48-39 deficit in points off threes.

Ayton finished with a game-high-tying 13 rebounds to go with 19 points, while Paul contributed a game-high 14 assists with just seven points.

Crowder (14 points), Landry Shamet (11), Mikal Bridges (10) and JaVale McGee (10) also scored in double figures for the Suns, who trailed by as many as eight points in the third quarter.

Tim Hardaway Jr. had a team-high 22 points and Porzingis 21 for the Mavericks.

Hardaway hit three of Dallas' 16 3-pointers, as did Frank Ntilikina, who finished with 13 points off the bench, and Dorian Finney-Smith, who did all his scoring from beyond the arc.

Dwight Powell matched Ayton's rebound total with 13 to pace the Mavericks, while Brunson added 18 points and Trey Burke had 10. Brunson contributed nine rebounds and a team-high nine assists.

Suns: Devin Booker 24 (9/17 2PT, 2/4 3PT, 9 REB), Deandre Ayton 19 (9/13 2PT, 13 REB), Jae Crowder 14 (4/9 3PT), Landry Shamet 11 (3/7 3PT), Mikal Bridges 10 (2/6 3PT), JaVale McGee 10 (4/5 2PT, 6 REB, 3 BLK), Chris Paul 7 (0/6 3PT, 14 AST).Mavericks: Tim Hardaway 22 (6/15 2PT, 3/8 3PT, 4 AST), Kristaps Porzingis 21 (5/13 2PT, 2/7 3PT, 8 REB, 7 AST, 2 BLK), Jalen Brunson 18 (6/14 2PT, 2/4 3PT, 9 REB, 9 AST), Frank Ntilikina 13 (3/3 3PT), Trey Burke 10 (2/2 3PT), Dorian Finney-Smith 9 (3/5 3PT, 7 REB).

Kristaps Porzingis' performance

Highlights

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