Kevin Durant Shines with 31 Points as Suns Defeat Mavericks 114-102

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns secured a 114-102 victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night, thanks to standout performances from Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkic. Durant led the Suns with 31 points, while Nurkic contributed 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Despite staying within striking distance for most of the game, the Mavericks were unable to take the lead after the first quarter. Luka Doncic, who scored 40 points and recorded 10 rebounds, was the offensive powerhouse for Dallas, supported by Kyrie Irving’s 22 points.

Heading into the final quarter, the Suns held a 91-80 advantage and quickly extended that to 105-90. Devin Booker added 21 points to the mix, while rookie Ryan Dunn made an impressive debut, scoring 13 points in his first start. Tyus Jones facilitated the offense with seven assists.

The Suns had initially built a lead as large as 13 points in the first half but went into halftime leading by a narrow margin of 63-55. Doncic, who started strong with 23 points before the break, slowed down in the second half, finishing the night shooting 12 of 25 from the field.

For the Mavericks, Klay Thompson stepped up with 19 points, including five 3-pointers, yet the bench produced a mere nine points overall. The Suns’ victory came as a bounce-back performance following a previous loss to the Lakers, and although guards Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen missed the game, the team adapted well.

Dunn and Durant’s back-to-back three-pointers late in the game pushed the Suns’ lead further, with Durant converting an additional layup into a three-point play. This 9-0 run effectively clinched the victory and shifted momentum decisively in Phoenix’s favor.

As they prepare for their next challenge, the Suns will face the Lakers again on Monday, while the Mavericks return home to take on the Jazz.

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