Some of the protagonists first thought about extension. Even the ESPN commentator announced it. The referees, reviewing the images, decided otherwise: there was indeed a last-second foul on Jusuf Nurkic under the circle. His converted free throw was synonymous with victory (113-114) for the Suns (8v-1d), their second this season at the expense of the Mavs (5v-4d).
And already their 7th in a row. This one, however, had to be sought out. Each team had its half in this game. In this case, the visitors had the first, after which they took the lead by 13 points at the break (50-63). But the Texans led by Luka Doncic (who exchanged a few words with Kevin Durant), supported by a very good Naji Marshall, reacted in the third act to get back together (83-87).
Before appearing to take control of operations in the early stages of the fourth (97-91). It is here that Bradley Beal, not very visible and clumsy like Devin Booker at 3-points (2/15 between them…), came out of his box to bring back Phoenix. With him, the two teams found themselves tied 5 minutes from the end (100-100).
What followed was a rather sublime sequence of exchanges of baskets between the two former jewels of the Nets, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, a real strong man for Dallas in this last period where Luka Doncic was in the background. Dallas always seemed to stay one step ahead, until a fatal last minute when an unexpected actor made the difference: Jusuf Nurkic.
His activity under the circle in the final, while Daniel Gafford suffered with his five fouls, made the difference. Luka Doncic, still cursing with the referees, will have one last chance at the buzzer. Missed.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– Jusuf Nurkic takes care of everything in the last minute. Struggling to finish in this match, Devin Booker still finished as the best passer (12). And shows his game intelligence by notably finding his pivot one minute from the end on the pick-and-roll, without the help of the Mavs defense, concentrated on the shooters, showing up. The same Nurkic then stole a ball from Kyrie Irving, then grabbed an offensive rebound on a miss from Kevin Durant to dunk. Powerless on the following defense, which saw Daniel Gafford crush Luka Doncic’s lobbed pass, Nurkic finished his “money time” in style with a new offensive rebound and this foul collected. After a first miss, he made the winning throw.
– Royce O’Neale activates X factor mode again. For the second time this season already, the winger, impeccable from 3-point range and in the fourth quarter where he responded, passed the 20-point mark. Following a very unproductive match in attack, then a failure, for two weeks, the former Nets and Jazz player is on the basis of his best career season coming off the Suns bench. This night, he pulled the latter to the top, while the one opposite contributed much less.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
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