PHOENIX — The past, present, and future of Dallas collided in hugs and handshakes Sunday when Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki smothered Luka Doncic in love after the Mavericks’ 123-90 triumph over the top-seeded Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals.
The 23-year-old superstar scored a game-high 35 points, adding 10 rebounds and four dimes to push Dallas to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2011 — coincidentally, the year Nowitzki won his only championship — as the Mavs overcame a 2-0 series deficit for the third time in franchise history en route to eliminating the Suns 4-3 in stunning fashion.
“I think we learned a lot from the Game 7 last year (against the LA Clippers in the opening round) and Game 6,” Doncic said. “We had two chances to move on. We didn’t. So, I think we learned a lot from there. This team is just special. I don’t have anything else to say.”
No need, Mr. Doncic. Your stellar play did the talking.
The outcome at Footprint Center on Sunday marked the first road win for either team in this slugfest of a series. Dallas seized its first victory in the Suns’ home arena since Nov. 29, 2019, in snapping an eight-game losing streak in Phoenix by posting the third-largest winning margin (33 points) in playoff team history. Read More
