Devin Booker —”homies” with a dinosaur— finished with 28 points, Chris Paul 20 and 11 assists, as the Phoenix Suns rallied to beat the Dallas Mavericks 109-101 Thursday.
Phoenix (35-9) swept its season-long, five-game road trip to win its ninth straight against the Mavericks thanks in large part to outscoring them 35-19 in the fourth frame, during which Paul tallied 10 of his points.
“Chris knows when to go,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “He showed that again in the fourth quarter.”
Luka Doncic scored 28 points, Jalen Brunson 19, and Kristaps Porzingis 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavs (26-20), who had won four straight games and 10 of 11.
“That’s a team that’s been running through the league here of late,” Suns coach Monty Williams. “To beat them on their home floor like that is huge.”
Phoenix found itself leading 101-99 with 2:56 remaining, when Bismack Biyombo — playing in just his seventh game since joining the Suns —followed a free throw with a dunk to make it a five-point affair. Paul’s three-pointer with 19 ticks left was the clincher, putting the Suns ahead 107-99.
Doncic, who now has at least 20 points in nine straight games, went to the bench in the fourth after hurting his neck on a hard fall.
“My neck’s not an excuse,” said Doncic, who had eight turnovers and said he may have tired in the fourth. “But man, they’re the best record in the league. We were right there.”
The Suns won despite shooting a season-worst 22.2% (8-for-36) from beyond the arc, though they did outscore Dallas 31-7 off turnovers. They’ll host Indiana on Saturday.
The Mavs had won six consecutive home games. They’re at home on Sunday against Memphis.
