It seems like everything that can go wrong for the Mavericks this season is indeed going wrong. Their latest setback came at the hands of the Phoenix Suns, who handed them a 116-125 defeat in a crucial matchup between playoff hopefuls. This loss not only worsens the Mavericks’ current crisis but also boosts the chances of their closest rivals. Since the departure of Luka Doncic, the Mavericks’ record stands at 6-9, and if we factor in the games the Slovenian star missed due to injury, that number balloons to 13-21. Under normal circumstances, the Mavericks should be focused on securing a direct playoff spot rather than fighting to cling to the tenth and final play-in position. However, these are far from normal times, with the team still reeling from the loss of their superstar and struggling with a slew of injuries.
The situation took a turn for the worse during the game against the Suns when Dwight Powell and Kessler Edwards collided, forcing both players to leave the court and head to the locker room. At that point, coach Jason Kidd was left with only seven available players, five on the court and two on the bench. The Suns, meanwhile, took advantage of their opponent’s misfortune, with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal combining for 64 points to lead their team to victory. The Suns’ win narrows the gap between them and the Mavericks to just two games, and they also hold the tiebreaker between the two teams.
Key Performances
The Mavericks did have some notable individual performances, with Naji Marshall scoring a career-high 34 points and Klay Thompson adding 26, although he struggled with his three-point shot, making only 5 of 14 attempts. Brandon Williams chipped in with 13 points, and Dante Exum contributed 12. The Australian guard even sparked a late rally with a pair of three-pointers that trimmed the deficit to 97-105, but it was too little, too late for the Mavericks.
The injury to Powell could be a significant concern for the Mavericks, as he is their only true center. His absence would leave a huge hole in the team’s lineup, and it remains to be seen how they will cope without him. The Mavericks are already struggling to stay afloat in the playoff race, and any further setbacks could be catastrophic. As for the Suns, they are slowly but surely climbing up the standings, and their win over the Mavericks has given them renewed hope of making a push for the playoffs. With teams like Portland and San Antonio still in the mix, the battle for the final playoff spots in the Western Conference is heating up, and the Mavericks are in danger of being left behind.