Entering Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, the Dallas Mavericks knew they had to do something different down two games to none after Phoenix took the first two at home at Footprint Center. Otherwise, they’d be in the brink of NBA playoff elimination.
The biggest thing the Mavericks needed was a second scorer to support Luka Doncic, who scored a combined 70 points between the first two games in Phoenix.
In Game 3 and Game 4 at home at American Airlines Center, it was a different player who bolstered the offense alongside Doncic.
After putting up a combined 24 points in games one and two, Jalen Brunson scored a game-high 28 points on 10-of-21 shooting and five assists. Doncic was right behind Brunson who came within one assist of a triple-double with 26 points on 11-of-25 shooting with 13 rebounds and nine assists in a 103-94 victory in Game three on May 6.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Phoenix Suns or Miami Heat: Which Top Seed Is More At Risk Of Elimination?
Brunson was not the only one who had an uptick in scoring in game three. In Game 2 on the road, Dallas has three scorers in double figures. Two days later for game three, the Dallas Mavericks had five players in double digits. The other three players came off the bench as Reggie Bullock recorded 15 points and Maxi Kleber and Dorian Finney-Smith had 14 points each in the nine-point win.
Game four for an afternoon game on Mother’s Day once again showed a Dallas offense supporting Doncic. In total, six players scored at least 10 points in the 111-101 victory. Behind Doncic’s 26 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds, Finney-Smith had 24 points and eight rebounds.
The offensive support was crucial, especially when Doncic only shot 1-of-10 from three-point range. The three-point shot came to life for Finney-Smith as all 24 points of his points came from beyond the arc, making eight three-pointers on Sunday.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Phoenix Suns or Miami Heat: Which Top Seed Is More At Risk Of Elimination?
In addition, Brunson scored 18 points. Spencer Dinwiddie, Davis Bertans, and Kleber, who came off the bench were also in double figures as the trio combined for 33 points in Game four.
The Dallas Mavericks were also playing with a different mindset as the team attacked more inside in front of the home crowd for the first time in the series. After losing 50-32 in points in the paint on Wednesday for game two, the Mavericks won by that exact score in the key on Friday night.
Not only has the offense come alive, but so has the defense. After committing a combined 26 turnovers in games one and two, Dallas only committed eight turnovers, compared to Phoenix’s 17 turnovers in game three. In Game 4, the Mavericks committed 11 turnovers, whereas the Suns gave up the ball 17 times.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Phoenix Suns or Miami Heat: Which Top Seed Is More At Risk Of Elimination?
Although the turnovers may not directly turn into points, it has the ability to stop runs and the momentum during certain moments in the game.
One thing that also benefitted Dallas, especially in game four, was Phoenix Suns’ leader Chris Paul fouling out as it hurt Phoenix’s offense as the floor general, primarily late in a game.
As the series now goes to game five in Phoenix on May 10, a best-of-three series ensues. A road win in the series will give either team a big advantage for the rest of the series with game six on May 12 in Dallas and game seven – if necessary – on May 15 in Phoenix.
