Jusuf Nurkic’s Last-Second Heroics Propel Suns Over Mavs in Thrilling 114-113 Finish

DALLAS — In a thrilling finish, the Phoenix Suns edged the Dallas Mavericks 114-113 on Friday night, thanks to a last-second free throw by Jusuf Nurkic. With just 0.8 seconds left on the clock, Nurkic’s successful foul shot capped off a remarkable game for the Suns, pushing their season record to an impressive 8-1.

Kevin Durant led the scoring for Phoenix with 26 points, while Nurkic contributed a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. This victory marks the Suns’ best start since the 2009-10 season, including two wins against the defending Western Conference champions.

As the game approached its climax, Nurkic put the Suns ahead with a dunk off a missed Durant shot, but Dallas quickly responded. Daniel Gafford leveled the score at 113 with an alley-oop dunk from Luka Doncic, who ended the night with 30 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds.

In the final moments, Royce O’Neale missed a runner in the lane, but Nurkic secured the rebound amid a flurry of Mavericks defenders, leading to his game-winning free throw after being fouled. Gafford fouled out on the play, increasing the pressure on Dallas.

On the other side, Kyrie Irving scored 29 points, and Naji Marshall added 18 for the Mavericks. O’Neale was instrumental for the Suns, scoring 18 points and helping the bench significantly contribute, outscoring Dallas’ reserves 28-9.

Dallas faced challenges in the frontcourt, as Gafford struggled with foul trouble, compounded by Dereck Lively II’s absence due to a sprained shoulder. Dwight Powell played a season-high 25 minutes but also racked up five personal fouls.

Phoenix demonstrated a slight edge in offensive rebounds, with a total of 11 compared to Dallas’s 8; notably, six of those came in the fourth quarter, highlighting Nurkic’s crucial contributions down the stretch.

Looking ahead, the Suns will return home to face the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, while the Mavericks will travel to Denver for their next matchup.