Kyrie Irving, Mavs Excite NBA Fans in Win vs. Kevin Durant, Suns with Luka Dončić Out
Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images
Kyrie Irving’s 20 points led five Dallas Mavericks players in double-digit scoring en route to a 98-89 road win on Friday evening.
The Mavs benefitted from that balanced scoring attack in their first game without Luka Dončić after the superstar was diagnosed with a left calf strain suffered on Christmas Day against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Dončić will be re-evaluated in one month, per ESPN’s Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon.
Dallas was in full control of this game, though. The Mavs never trailed and led by as many as 18 points. They benefitted from Phoenix’s cold shooting night, which featured the team scoring just 14 points in the second quarter and 25 points apiece in the first, third and fourth quarters.
Kevin Durant scored a game-high 35 points on 11-of-19 shooting for the Suns, who posted 54 points on 32.8 percent shooting otherwise. Bradley Beal had a tough evening, scoring 11 on 5-of-18 shooting.
Daniel Gafford started in place of Dereck Lively II (left hip contusion) and had 16 points and five rebounds. Spencer Dinwiddie and Maxi Kleber scored 15 apiece off the bench.
This game also featured a third quarter fight, which ended with Suns center Jusuf Nurkić and Mavs forwards Naji Marshall and PJ Washington getting ejected. Nurkić and Marshall confronted each other, and the Suns big man slapped the Mavs forward in the head. Marshall then swung at Nurkić before Washington shoved Nurkić to the court. Cooler heads quickly prevailed as the refs helped break up the situation.
With the win, the Mavs moved to 20-11, good enough for fourth place in the Western Conference. Navigating the short-term future without Dončić will certainly be challenging, but Dallas has notably excelled when forced to play without the five-time All-NBA player earlier this year.
StatMuse @statmuse
The Mavs are 7-2 without Luka. pic.twitter.com/L2GSmNSkyP
The Mavs ultimately passed their first full test in this stretch with flying colors, impressing fans with their effort.
Josh Bowe @Boweman55
that mavericks game was a fun one for mavs fans because it was simultaneously the best win of the season (considering the circumstances) and also the worst loss of the season for the suns.
Bdoturbanus @Bdoturbanus3
This Mavs team is very good
Very very good. They find ways to win ugly ass games without there best player.
Gotta love this type of stuff. Championship level things man.
Ben |The book of Luka| @RetardCookedYou
greatest mavs game of the year. Everything clicked perfectly. Everyone had eachothers back. Even with 3 of our best assets against the suns being ejected we pulled through. great job.
Deven Tiwary @deven_tiwary
Gotta give the Mavs front office props for making smart moves to make the roster better to the point that they can stay afloat without Luka. This team is better than last year. Naji Marshall was a steal, Quentin Grimes flyer looks like a genius move.
🦅Mavs💙 @RichDolph11
I would say this is one of the best defensive performances from Mavs this season especially after PJ and Naji being ejected also no Lively and Luka. Veryyy impressive #MFFL
Caroline Chaneski @MsChaneski
Mavs didn’t have
Luka (best player)
Lively (starting center)
Naji (Ejected)
PJ (Best defender) Ejected
Kyrie wasn’t scoring the 2nd halfThe Suns STILL couldn’t beat us🤣🤣🤣
Grampage JacksonⓋ @jgjaxon
This Mavs win was special. Nobody in the NBA wants to face us. Let’s win it all!!
Dallas will now visit Portland to play the Trail Blazers on Saturday at 10 p.m. ET.
