Booker nets 46 as Suns beat Mavericks 132-109

Devin Booker played important part in intense matchup between his Phoenix Suns and Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks, marked by persistent taunts and trash talk, even with new faces on the court.Booker scored 22 of his 46 points in a pivotal third quarter, guiding the Suns to a 132-109 victory over the Mavericks and extending their winning streak to seven games, tying their season-high.

The game began with a triple-technical, setting the tone for a physical contest, reminiscent of their seven-game playoff series almost two years ago. Kevin Durant, still acclimating to the Dallas-Phoenix rivalry, contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Suns commenced their longest road trip of the season with a strong comeback. They turned a 16-point second-quarter deficit into a commanding 22-point lead, outscoring the Mavericks 43-20 in the third quarter.

Despite missing Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks struggled, losing four of their last five games. Luka Doncic, without his All-Star partner, posted an impressive 34 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. However, the Suns had a balanced effort with 20 points from Bradley Beal and 15 from Grayson Allen.

The third quarter began with Booker sinking a free throw to tie the game at 58-all after Doncic received a technical for complaining to officials at the end of the first half. This early tension set the stage for more confrontations, including a heated exchange between Grant Williams and Kevin Durant, resulting in technical fouls for both players and a subsequent scuffle involving Jusuf Nurkic.

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In a bizarre incident, Doncic was involved in the ejection of a fan who taunted him about being tired and needing a treadmill. Doncic promptly pointed out the fan, leading to the ejection. Throughout these incidents, Booker dominated, going 9 of 11 from the field in a spectacular third quarter.

Despite trailing 51-35 midway through the second quarter, Booker’s stellar performance propelled the Suns to their first 20-point lead, securing a convincing victory over the Mavericks.