Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrates after sinking a 3-point basket in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in Dallas, Thursday, February 22, 2024. (AP Photo/ Tony Gutierrez)
DALLAS — The longest winning streak of the season for the Dallas Mavericks coincides with a tie for the longest game streak together for the star duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Doncic scored 41 points, Irving 29 and the Mavericks beat the Phoenix Suns 123-113 on Thursday night, extending their winning streak to seven in both teams’ return from the NBA All-Star break.
Dallas tied with Phoenix in the standings at 33-23 and won the head-to-head tiebreaker with a 2-1 record in a pair of teams fighting for a guaranteed playoff spot.
Doncic had 11 assists and nine rebounds against fellow All-Stars Devin Booker, who scored 35 points, and Kevin Durant, who had 23 on an ordinary shooting night for the 14-time All-Star. The Suns had won five of six before the break.
Dallas’ surge began when Irving returned from a sprained thumb. The Mavericks have been without Doncic or Irving, or both, for 27 games due to injuries. Their seventh consecutive streak matches the previous long streak this season, from the first month.
“I think the fact that those two coexist pretty well answers the questions,” coach Jason Kidd said. “I think it shows again, our health, our energy, everything is positive right now. I think the guys are having fun. You can see this energy on the ground.
Seven in a row, man. #MFFL pic.twitter.com/FBoKvxhYfb
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) February 23, 2024
Dallas continued its momentum during the break during the first visit of new majority owner Miriam Adelson. The widow of casino mogul Sheldon Adelson sat courtside.
The deal between his company, Las Vegas Sands Corp., and Mark Cuban was approved by the NBA in December. Cuban is now the alternate governor.
Irving, who missed the first two games, scored 13 points in the first quarter and restored a double-digit lead early in the fourth with a nifty behind-the-back dribble and spin move for a layup.
A smiling Doncic greeted Irving when the Suns called a timeout after Irving’s layup, and the star duo delivered the final blow when Irving passed after rising for a jumper and Doncic scored 3 points for a lead of 128-113. Both left the match at the next whistle.
The Suns were without guard Bradley Beal, who is dealing with left hamstring strain. He scored 20 points in a 132-109 Phoenix victory in Dallas a month ago, when Booker scored 22 of his 46 points in a decisive third quarter as the Suns rallied from 16 points down.
This time, it was Irving who sparked a rally in Dallas.
“You just have to know that, especially after he does one, the next one is coming,” Booker said. “He’s a great player and difficult to guard. We definitely could have limited some of these transitional looks.
The Mavs scored the first 16 points of the second half to complete a 33-9 run that began after the Suns took their largest lead at 54-43 midway through the second quarter.
“We didn’t start the third quarter with enough focus,” Phoenix coach Frank Vogel said. “We stagnated a little too much offensively. We had some problems with what we were supposed to do. This led to some difficult possessions.
Tim Hardaway Jr. and PJ Washington scored 12 points each for Dallas. Eric Gordon had 16 for Phoenix.
NEXT SCHEDULE
Suns: At Houston Friday night.
Mavericks: at Indiana on Sunday.
