Game ID: 22400425
Dallas Mavericks @ Phoenix Suns
Friday, December 27, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET
Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
PHX 25 14 25 25 89DAL 28 27 17 26 98
DAL @ PHX ScoutingDAL @ PHX Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
PHX availability going into 12/19 · 3 days' restOUT Beal missed 2 since 12/13, returns tonight: 31 min (98% of 32)
OUT Gillespie missed 22 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 2 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 3, 35 min since (96% of 36)
BACK Nurkić back 12/13 after 5, 29 min since (122% of 24)
BACK Dunn back 12/13 after 3, 14 min since (73% of 19)
BACK Okogie back 12/05 after 2, 9 min since (65% of 14)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Gillespie missed 23 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 3 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 3, 36 min since (98% of 36)
BACK Beal back 12/19 after 2, 31 min since (98% of 32)
BACK Nurkić back 12/13 after 5, 30 min since (126% of 24)
BACK Dunn back 12/13 after 3, 13 min since (69% of 19)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Gillespie missed 24 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Okogie missed 2 since 12/19, returns tonight: 13 min (91% of 14)
OUT Bol missed 4 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 3, 37 min since (100% of 36)
BACK Beal back 12/19 after 2, 35 min since (109% of 32)
BACK Nurkić back 12/13 after 5, 29 min since (121% of 24)
BACK Dunn back 12/13 after 3, 14 min since (71% of 19)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 2 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 25 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 5 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Durant back 12/13 after 3, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Beal back 12/19 after 2, 35 min since (109% of 32)
BACK Nurkić back 12/13 after 5, 26 min since (109% of 24)
BACK Dunn back 12/13 after 3, 17 min since (88% of 19)
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 13 min since (91% of 14)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT Booker missed 3 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Allen missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 26 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 6 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Beal back 12/19 after 2, 36 min since (111% of 32)
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 15 min since (106% of 14)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/28 · back-to-backOUT Booker missed 4 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Allen missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 27 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 7 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Beal back 12/19 after 2, 36 min since (113% of 32)
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 17 min since (122% of 14)
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 12/31 · 2 days' restOUT Booker missed 5 since 12/21, returns tonight: 30 min (82% of 37)
OUT Allen missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 28 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 8 since 12/13, out tonight
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 21 min since (147% of 14)
NEW Beal 32 to 38 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/04 · 3 days' restOUT Allen missed 5 since 12/23, returns tonight: 31 min (127% of 24)
OUT Nurkić missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Gillespie missed 29 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 9 since 12/13, returns tonight: 12 min (95% of 12)
BACK Booker back 12/31 after 5, 30 min since (82% of 37)
BACK Okogie back 12/23 after 2, 22 min since (157% of 14)
NEW Dunn 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Morris 13 to 18 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restOUT O'Neale missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Nurkić missed 3 since 12/28, returns tonight: 14 min (61% of 24)
OUT Gillespie missed 30 since 10/28, out tonight
BACK Booker back 12/31 after 5, 33 min since (89% of 37)
BACK Allen back 1/04 after 5, 31 min since (127% of 24)
BACK Bol back 1/04 after 9, 12 min since (95% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Okogie 14 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Morris 13 to 19 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 12/19 · 3 days' restOUT Kleber missed 3 since 12/07, returns tonight: 13 min (71% of 19)
OUT Hardy missed 3 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 11 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 12/10 after 4, 29 min since (104% of 28)
BACK Thompson back 12/03 after 4, 25 min since (91% of 27)
BACK Edwards back 12/10 after 4, 1 min since (6% of 15)
DAL availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Hardy missed 4 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 12 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 12/10 after 4, 27 min since (96% of 28)
BACK Kleber back 12/19 after 3, 13 min since (71% of 19)
BACK Edwards back 12/10 after 4, 2 min since (10% of 15)
DAL availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Dončić missed 2 since 12/19, returns tonight: 30 min (83% of 36)
OUT Hardy missed 5 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 13 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Marshall back 12/10 after 4, 25 min since (89% of 28)
BACK Kleber back 12/19 after 3, 15 min since (80% of 19)
BACK Edwards back 12/10 after 4, 1 min since (9% of 15)
NEW Lively II 23 to 29 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Hardy missed 6 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 14 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/23 after 2, 30 min since (83% of 36)
BACK Marshall back 12/10 after 4, 22 min since (81% of 28)
BACK Kleber back 12/19 after 3, 15 min since (82% of 19)
BACK Edwards back 12/10 after 4, 3 min since (19% of 15)
DAL availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT Hardy missed 7 since 12/07, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 16)
OUT Williams missed 15 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/23 after 2, 23 min since (64% of 36)
BACK Kleber back 12/19 after 3, 17 min since (92% of 19)
DAL availability going into 12/28 · back-to-backOUT Williams missed 16 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/23 after 2, 23 min since (64% of 36)
BACK Kleber back 12/19 after 3, 19 min since (101% of 19)
BACK Hardy back 12/27 after 7, 1 min since (6% of 16)
DAL availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Williams missed 17 since 11/22, returns tonight: 20 min (132% of 15)
BACK Dončić back 12/23 after 2, 23 min since (64% of 36)
BACK Hardy back 12/27 after 7, 9 min since (56% of 16)
DAL availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Marshall missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Lively II missed 3 since 12/27, returns tonight: 20 min (88% of 23)
BACK Dončić back 12/23 after 2, 23 min since (64% of 36)
BACK Hardy back 12/27 after 7, 13 min since (81% of 16)
BACK Williams back 12/30 after 17, 20 min since (132% of 15)
NEW Kleber 19 to 25 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Marshall missed 3 since 12/28, out tonight
BACK Lively II back 1/01 after 3, 20 min since (88% of 23)
BACK Hardy back 12/27 after 7, 15 min since (93% of 16)
BACK Williams back 12/30 after 17, 11 min since (73% of 15)
NEW Grimes 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Kleber 19 to 28 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 30 and Beal at 23 a game. Without Booker (3 straight), Allen (2 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 29 and Irving at 24 a game. Without Hardy (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Dallas 115, Phoenix 113, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/19 vs IND 111-120 — PHX notes
PHX lost 111-120. PHX shot 49% (40 of 82) to IND's 44%, 9 of 30 from three. PHX turned it over 16 times to IND's 9, and IND turned those into 9 steals. Durant led with 37 (15 of 27, 3 of 6 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Booker added 17, Beal 16. Q4 was theirs, 28-23, the deficit cut from 14 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 97-83 against them. Beal's -17 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/21 vs DET 125-133 — PHX notes
PHX lost 125-133. PHX shot 58% (45 of 78) to DET's 55%, 14 of 29 from three. PHX turned it over 19 times to DET's 13, and DET turned those into 13 steals. Durant led with 43 (14 of 26, 4 of 9 from three, 11 of 11 at the line); Beal added 26, Jones 19. Q2 was theirs, 33-23, the deficit cut from 15 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 110-92 against them. Beal's -15 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ DEN 90-117 — PHX notes
PHX lost 90-117. PHX shot 40% (33 of 83) to DEN's 51%, 13 of 33 from three. Beal led with 23 (9 of 17, 5 of 7 from three); Durant added 23. Q1 was theirs, 26-27, but the other 3 periods went 90-64 against them. Jones's -24 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/25 vs DEN 110-100 — PHX notes
PHX won 110-100. PHX shot 47% (41 of 88) to DEN's 46%, 11 of 36 from three, and got to the line 20 times to DEN's 28. PHX turned it over 7 times to DEN's 16. Beal led with 27 (11 of 21, 3 of 7 from three); Durant added 27, Jones 17. The hinge was Q3, 27-22: a lead of 2 became 7, and the lead reached 15. Beal was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/27 vs DAL 89-98 — PHX notes
PHX lost 89-98. PHX shot 39% (32 of 83) to DAL's 44%, 13 of 35 from three. Durant led with 35 (11 of 19, 3 of 4 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); O'Neale added 14, Beal 11. Q3 was theirs, 25-17, the deficit cut from 16 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 81-64 against them. Beal's -13 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/28 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 115, shooting 41 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Curry at 20 and Kuminga at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 33 and Beal at 21 a game. Without Booker (4 straight), Allen (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 37 percent from three to Golden State's 33. Call it Golden State 112, Phoenix 110, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/31 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 32 and Beal at 23 a game. Without Booker (5 straight), Allen (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Morant at 21 and Jackson Jr. at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Aldama (2 straight), Smart (4 straight), Williams Jr. (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-6 a night and Phoenix minus-3 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 18 times a game to Phoenix's 13. Call it Memphis 118, Phoenix 114, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/04 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Haliburton at 20 and Siakam at 18 a game. Without Nesmith (29 straight), Isa. Jackson (29 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 108, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Beal at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Allen (5 straight), Nurkić (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 108 a night to Indiana's 122 and the glass, where Indiana has been plus-0 a night and Phoenix minus-4. Call it Indiana 115, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/06 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 29 free throws a game; Embiid at 31 and Maxey at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Oubre Jr. (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 110, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Beal at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without O'Neale (2 straight), Nurkić (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the line, where Philadelphia takes 29 free throws a game to Phoenix's 21 and the arc, Philadelphia at 37 percent from three to Phoenix's 33. Call it Philadelphia 113, Phoenix 109, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/19 vs LAC 95-118 — DAL notes
DAL lost 95-118. DAL shot 40% (34 of 86) to LAC's 52%, 7 of 30 from three, and went to the line 28 times to LAC's 17 — 20 points from the stripe to their 16. Thompson led with 22 (9 of 17, 2 of 9 from three); Dinwiddie added 19, Washington 14. Q1 was theirs, 30-24, but the other 3 periods went 94-65 against them. Grimes's -22 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/21 vs LAC 113-97 — DAL notes
DAL won 113-97. DAL shot 45% (40 of 88) to LAC's 42%, 14 of 35 from three. DAL turned it over 11 times to LAC's 17. Grimes led with 20 (7 of 8, 3 of 4 from three); Thompson added 16, Irving 15. The hinge was Q2, 31-18: a lead of 1 became 14, and the lead reached 17. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/23 vs POR 132-108 — DAL notes
DAL won 132-108. DAL shot 53% (48 of 90) to POR's 46%, 12 of 36 from three, and went to the line 34 times to POR's 19 — 24 points from the stripe to their 14. DAL turned it over 10 times to POR's 18. Dončić led with 27 (10 of 19, 1 of 7 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Gafford added 23, Irving 20. The hinge was Q3, 40-23: a lead of 9 became 26, and the lead reached 32. Irving was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
12/25 vs MIN 99-105 — DAL notes
DAL lost 99-105. DAL shot 41% (36 of 87) to MIN's 47%, 16 of 43 from three. Irving led with 39 (14 of 27, 5 of 14 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Dončić added 14, Thompson 12. Q4 was theirs, 31-15, the deficit cut from 22 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 90-68 against them. Grimes's -10 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/27 @ PHX 98-89 — DAL notes
DAL won 98-89. DAL shot 44% (35 of 80) to PHX's 39%, 12 of 34 from three. Irving led with 20 (6 of 21, 5 of 10 from three); Gafford added 16, Kleber 15. The hinge was Q2, 27-14: a lead of 3 became 16. Thompson was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/28 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Sharpe at 21 and Avdija at 18 a game. Without Thybulle (30 straight), Williams III (2 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 103, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Irving at 24 and Thompson at 15 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Dallas wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Dallas allowing 103 a night to Portland's 121 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-1 a night and Dallas minus-3. Call it Dallas 114, Portland 110, Portland keeping it close.
12/30 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 117, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Fox at 27 and Sabonis at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Irving at 28 and Gafford at 13 a game. Without Lively II (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Dallas allowing 105 a night to Sacramento's 117 and the arc, Dallas at 37 percent from three to Sacramento's 32. Call it Dallas 114, Sacramento 111, Sacramento keeping it close.
1/01 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Eason (6 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Irving at 31 and Washington at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Marshall (2 straight), Lively II (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and Dallas minus-9 and the arc, Dallas at 37 percent from three to Houston's 33. Call it Houston 113, Dallas 109, Dallas keeping it close.
1/03 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Irving at 30 and Dinwiddie at 14 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Marshall (3 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 44 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Okoro (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-0 a night and Dallas minus-7 and the arc, Cleveland at 44 percent from three to Dallas's 38. Call it Cleveland 115, Dallas 112, Dallas keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DALDG D. Gafford
DP D. Powell
JH J. Hardy
KI K. Irving
KT K. Thompson
MK M. Kleber
NM N. Marshall
OP O. Prosper
PW P. Washington
QG Q. Grimes
SD S. Dinwiddie
PHXBB B. Beal
DL D. Lee
JN J. Nurkić
JO J. Okogie
KD K. Durant
MM M. Morris
MP M. Plumlee
NU Nurkic
OI O. Ighodaro
RD R. Dunn
RO R. O'Neale
TJ T. Jones
DAL/PHX the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Kyrie Irving scores 20, Mavs win first game after Doncic's injury by beating the Suns 98-89
PHOENIX -- — Kyrie Irving scored 20 points, Daniel Gafford added 16 and the Dallas Mavericks won their first game since star Luka Doncic was injured, beating the Phoenix Suns 98-89 on Friday night.
Kevin Durant scored 35 points for the Suns, who have lost four of their past five games.
Doncic is expected to miss about a month with a calf injury suffered in the team’s Christmas Day loss to Minnesota. The Mavs were left further short-handed on Friday in the third quarter after forwards Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington — along with Phoenix's Jusuf Nurkic — were ejected after a brief fight .
The Mavs persevered anyway thanks to a balanced effort on both ends of the floor. Dallas never trailed and led by as many as 18. Spencer Dinwiddie and Maxi Kleber each scored 15 points and Klay Thompson added 11.
Dallas took a 55-39 lead by halftime, led by Irving's 15 points. The Suns shot just 33.3% over the first two quarters.
Takeaways Mavericks: It was a gritty win for the Mavs, who controlled the game from the outset despite playing without Doncic. Irving made just 6 of 21 shots overall, but 5 of 10 from behind the arc.
Suns: Two days after a galvanizing win on Christmas Day over the Nuggets, the Suns went right back to mediocrity. Part of the problem is the absence of injured All-Star Devin Booker , but as the Mavericks showed on Friday, teams can still have a level of success without one of their stars.
Key moment The Suns briefly cut the Mavs advantage to 81-75 midway through the fourth, but Dallas' Quentin Grimes responded with a tough 3-pointer to push the lead back to nine.
Key stat The Suns have a 7-14 record since starting the season at 8-1.
Up next Mavericks at Trail Blazers on Saturday; Suns at Warriors on Saturday.