Dorian Finney-Smith and Jalen Brunson were just two of the Mavericks’ ‘others’ to step forward in a Game 4 victory.
DALLAS — Jason Kidd explained the pain Dallas needed to endure in Game 4 to replicate success from Friday’s triumph over the Phoenix Suns.
“Just understand in Game 4 we have to be exhausted,” he told the team. “We have to feel we left everything out there. It’s gonna hurt and you’re gonna be tired.”
They’re also now tied 2-2 with the top-seeded Suns in this Western Conference semifinal series by way of Sunday’s 111-101 victory at American Airlines Center. Heeding the coach’s advice, Dallas executed with brute physicality and cold-blooded precision from 3-point range to set up a Game 5 showdown Tuesday between the teams in Phoenix at Footprint Center.
Before we look too far ahead, let’s focus on the present and what Sunday’s result might mean for both of teams as the series progresses. Dallas owns an all-time series record of 7-7 when it’s tied 2-2 in a best-of-seven series, while the Suns are 8-9 under those same conditions.
As usual, Luka Doncic performed like the superstar he is, finishing with a team-high 26 points to run up his total to 655 over his first 20 postseason outings, good for the third-highest point total all-time behind just Wilt Chamberlain (705) and Michael Jordan (718). The point guard received plenty of help from the supporting cast, too, namely two-way wing Dorian Finney-Smith, who drilled a career-high eight 3-pointers on 8-for-12 shooting, totaling a career-high 24 points.
We’ll dive into that and much more in our five takeaways coming out of the Mavs’ 25th home win out of their last 30 showings since the start of the new year:
1. Battle of backcourts
Clearly, Dallas rides some momentum in this category headed into Game 5 at Footprint Center. In the team’s Game 3 victory, Mavs guards Doncic and Jalen Brunson combined for 54 points, 17 boards, and 14 assists before coming together in Game 4 for 44 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists. As we’ve mentioned before, Phoenix hunted Doncic mercilessly over the first two games of the series. But the Mavericks have turned the tables, employing similar tactics against Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Mikal Bridges.
With just 1.1 ticks remaining until intermission, Paul committed his fourth foul going after a loose ball, and over a span of 34 seconds in the fourth quarter, the veteran point guard picked up his fifth and sixth fouls and left the game with nearly nine minutes remaining. The four fouls in the first half register as the most Paul has been whistled for in a first half in the regular season and the playoffs, and his disqualification marked the first time since 2018 against Minnesota that he fouled out of a postseason contest. Paul finished with 5 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.
But let’s break it down a little further. Over the first two games of the series in Phoenix, Paul racked up 47 points to go with 11 rebounds while turning the ball over on four occasions and committing five fouls. In Paul’s last two outings in Dallas, the veteran has contributed just 17 points with 12 rebounds, 11 assists, nine turnovers, and 10 fouls.
Clearly, Paul needs a taste of home cooking as the series moves back to Phoenix. But credit Kidd and the Mavericks for cracking the code on finding ways to frustrate the 37-year-old on both ends of the floor.
Devin Booker, meanwhile, continues to put together superstar performances, and Game 4 was no different as he produced his third 30-point outing of the playoffs (and 13th in his postseason career) with 35 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists. A three-time All-Star, Booker also committed a team-high five turnovers. As a team, Phoenix finished with 17 giveaways, leading to 23 points for the home team.
2. Doncic in the post
Since Dallas’ Game 2 loss, Kidd made the savvy adjustment to play Doncic more in the post; it’s a problem the Suns can’t seem to solve. Doncic in the paint creates space for him to facilitate, while allowing Brunson to attack downhill. It also keeps the Mavs point guard fresher, so he can remain a force on both ends late in games.
Phoenix initially believed the solution for Doncic in the post was to make sure the on-ball defender could stay in front of the point guard for two to three dribbles. That’s easier said than done, right?
“I’m not quite sure anybody’s put a guy on Luka that’s totally shut him down,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “He knows how to pick his spots. He’s got really good footwork. I think you have to be able to guard your guy for at least two, maybe three dribbles.”
Why the Mavs’ inside-outside game cracked open the Suns’ defense.
Early in the game, the Mavericks roasted the Suns with center Deandre Ayton in drop coverage. Eventually, the Suns started switching. That didn’t work, either. Phoenix experienced similar results when it played more zone.
“I think when you put him in the post, he can score,” Kidd said of Doncic. “But also, he gives avenues of other guys being able to score because he causes a problem. He’s a very good passer. He’s a willing passer. If we can get to the paint and get to the rim, it helps us and gives us an opportunity offensively to have some success.”
3. Deep threats
Dorian Finney-Smith, Davis Bertans and Spencer Dinwiddie combine to shoot 14-for-22 from deep.
The Mavericks shot 20-for-44 from deep against Phoenix, marking the second time the team knocked down at least 20 3-pointers so far in the postseason. Dallas hit a playoff team-record 22 3s in Game 2 of the opening round against Utah. In Game 4, eight Mavs connected on at least one 3-pointer, and four more (Davis Bertans 4, Spencer Dinwiddie 2, Reggie Bullock 2, and Finney Smith 8) drilled multiple attempts from range. Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber, and Jason Terry are the only Mavs to connect on eight 3-pointers or more in a game.
Interestingly, Doncic contributed only one 3-pointer.
While we’re here, let’s throw in some historical perspective, too. The Mavericks also finished with 20 3-pointers exactly 11 years ago to the day when they swept the Los Angeles Lakers out of the second round of the playoffs. In all, the Mavericks have hit 20 3-pointers or more in four postseason outings.
4. Dark first half for the Suns
Booker hit a technical free throw two and a half minutes into Sunday’s game to give the Suns an 8-7 advantage.
That would be the last time Phoenix held a lead.
With just a little more than three minutes remaining in the opening quarter, four of Dallas starters were already in double figures in scoring as the Mavs held a 26-18 edge. The advantage only swelled as the first half commenced, and by intermission, the Suns were looking up at their largest halftime deficit (12 points) of the 2022 postseason. The teams hit the locker rooms with Dallas up 68-56. The 68 points are the most the Suns have surrendered in an opening half so far in the playoffs. Perhaps more concerning is the fact Phoenix surrendered 10 turnovers by halftime for the second consecutive game. The Mavericks scored 13 points Sunday off Phoenix’s first-half turnovers.
Dallas also tied a franchise record for the most 3-pointers made in any half of a playoff game (14), led by the red-hot Finney-Smith, who shot 5-for-7 from range over the first two quarters. Six Mavericks finished the first half scoring in double figures, and eight had made at least one 3-pointer as Dallas shot 14-for-24 from beyond the arc.
Surely Phoenix expects its current shooting issues to improve once it heads back home for Game 5. The Suns shot 50% or better over their first eight playoff games, but they haven’t hit better than 50% in Games 3 and 4 of this series in Dallas.
Interestingly, Phoenix entered Game 4 with the league’s highest winning percentage this season following a loss (.800), but Sunday marked the first time the club dropped two in a row this postseason.
5. Paul’s family shouldn’t be dealing with issues
Charles, Kenny, Shaq & EJ discuss Chris Paul’s unexpected interaction with a fan during tonight’s playoff game.
Paul posted to Twitter in the aftermath of Sunday’s loss about a Mavericks fan that reportedly became involved in an incident with the 12-time All-Star’s family at American Airlines Center.
The Mavericks issued a release acknowledging the incident took place, and said they removed the fan from the game. While it’s awesome to root hard for your team, we can all probably agree it’s despicable to harass someone’s family, regardless of the person’s lot in life.
“The Dallas Mavericks are aware of an incident between a fan and the family of Chris Paul,” read the statement from the Dallas Mavericks. “It was unacceptable behavior and will not be tolerated. The Mavericks, along with American Airlines Center, swiftly removed the fan from today’s game.”
Good job. But the truth is this shouldn’t be happening in Dallas or anywhere else for that matter.
Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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