In a clash of the titans, the Dallas Mavericks (33-23) squared off against their pals-turned-rivals, the Phoenix Suns (33-23), in a post-All-Star Break showdown. The tension was as palpable as the nacho cheese at the American Airlines Center as the Mavs defended their turf, extending their win streak to a jaw-dropping seven games with a 123-113 victory.
Ah, sweet victory! Beating the Suns is always a treat, but this win was like finding extra fries at the bottom of the bag—it gave Dallas the 2-1 season edge over Phoenix and dibs on any potential playoff tiebreakers. It was a win-win, or in this case, a win-some-more situation for the Mavs.
With Phoenix sitting just one game ahead of Dallas in the Western Conference standings, this victory was more important than finding a parking spot at the mall on Black Friday. The Mavs are on a mission to bypass the Suns and dodge the play-in scenario, aiming for that top-six playoff seed—heck, maybe even top five if they’re feeling fancy. After this latest triumph, there’s only 26 regular-season games left, and Luka Dončić is probably already practicing his victory dance. Speaking of Luka, the man was on fire with 41 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds, and four steals in a performance so epic, even his jersey needed a Gatorade. Kyrie Irving joined the party with 29 points, including some sweet 3-point magic, while poor Devin Booker tried his best for the Suns with 35 points and eight assists, but hey, you win some, you lose some, right? Or in Dallas’ case, you win, win, and win some more!