In the first two games of this series, the Mavs averaged 18.5 FGA in the restricted area and hit 62.2 percent of them. In Game 3 Dallas took 25 shots in the restricted area and made 80 percent of them. Have to stay aggressive.
Mavericks 103, Suns 94
Luka: 26 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals
Jalen Brunson: 28 points, 5 assists
Dorian Finney-Smith on Luka Doncic: “The first or second possession, he was on the floor. When the best player does that, it sets the tone.”
Luka: 26 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists and two steals in 34 minutes, one dime shy of his fourth career playoff triple-double.
The 94 points for Phoenix tonight are the fewest points for the Suns in any game in the 2021-22 regular season or postseason
Brunson drove to the basket 26 times in Game 3. He had only 23 combined in Games 1 and 2, per@SecondSpectrum. Mavs scored 1.3 points per Brunson drive tonight, an elite number.
3 and D guys were all instrumental in the Mavs Game 3 win:
Bullock: 15 pts, 4 made 3s, 3 steals
Finney-Smith: 14 pts, 4 made 3s, 3 stls
Kleber: 14 pts, 2 made 3s, 3 blocks
Mavs win 103-94 for their first win in the series. After 22 points combined in the first 2 games for Jalen Brunson, he erupted for 28 points in a fantastic and aggressive performance to lead the team in scoring.
Dorian Finney-Smith is up to 50 threes in 21 career playoff games.
Frank Ntilikina played in Josh Green’s typical rotation pattern as a defensive specialist, part of an effort to wear down the Suns’ All-Star duo by the fourth quarter, and provided extra backcourt depth in Doncic’s spot voids.
Dallas even made adjustments to respond to the NBA’s moves Friday afternoon, when the league fined the organization $25,000 for standing “on or encroaching upon the playing court during the game.”
Their fix?
Reserves, led by Theo Pinson and Tim Hardaway Jr., and owner Mark Cuban appeared even more animated and theatrical on the bench and around the baseline.
They held their hands low to the ground after Doncic backed down and knocked over Bridges, for example, celebrated a Paul technical foul at mid-court and jawed with Booker throughout the fourth quarter.
Message received.
Devin Booker when guarded by Frank Ntilikina this post-season
(total of 17 possessions) Booker was 1-8 with 6 TOs
The next lowest FG% Booker has been held to by a single player was 43%. That player?* Jrue Holiday, in the 2021 Finals
betting related...Phoenix opens -1.5 for Game 4.
Note, however, that Phoenix also opened -1.5 for Game 3 before some (very wise) sharp bettors took Dallas this afternoon and pushed the line all the way to Dallas -1.5.
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