Who said the Phoenix Suns lack bench depth, or that their offseason additions were less than ideal? That’s being facetious sure, but it was a new Sun, Damion Lee, who proved the hero in the team’s season opener.
The former Warrior had 11 fourth-quarter points, and crucially the game-winner, as the Suns energised Footprint Center with a remarkable win against the Dallas Mavericks following a 22-point deficit early in the third.
The Phoenix Suns produced a remarkably tough comeback win, exorcising some demons in the 107-105 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.
The first half had an eerily similar feel to game seven, even if the scoreline wasn’t quite as stunning. Both sides struggled early offensively, before the leading villain, Luka Doncic, began to orchestrate his usual magic.
His 13 points in the opening period gave the Mavericks a 32-24 lead, while Devin Booker begun heating up late in the quarter to lead the Suns with nine points. The bigger issue actually came with the respective stars off the floor, with Phoenix producing a jarring and downright atrocious beginning to the second.
Deandre Ayton found himself in foul trouble, limiting him to just over seven first half minutes. Without him, Chris Paul simply didn’t have the requisite options to instrument an efficient two-man game. Monty Williams also seemed intent on giving every active player a run, using 12 players by halfway through the second. It’s hard to evaluate whether that had an impact on offensive rhythm, but either way the Suns had just seven points in the opening seven minutes of the quarter
Conversely, without Doncic, Dallas had enough shot-creation from Spencer Dinwiddie and Christian Wood. The bench scoring differential was always going to be a major factor, with the Mavericks leading that category 17-7 in the first half.
The Suns offense picked up once Booker and Bridges returned, yet they still had no answer for Doncic on the other end. Phoenix, to their credit, tried different looks despite Bridges having the primary role. At times they’d switch everything, almost too easily, but then the Slovenian would isolate and destroy the mismatch. On other occasions they’d trap and double, only for Doncic to find the right pass on every occasion.
Luka Doncic gets to the rim against the Phoenix Suns. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Mavericks took a 62-45 lead into halftime, before proceeding to score the first five of the third. Against an elite half court…
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