Luka Doncic

The streaking Phoenix Suns stayed hot Wednesday, earning their 10th consecutive victory with a 105-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks at home. It's their first 10-game win streak since 2010

Devin Booker had 24 points to lead the way for Phoenix, which has the fourth-ranked offense in the NBA. The Suns improved to 11-3 with the victory.

The Mavericks, who entered the game having won five of their last six games, fell to 9-5. Tim Hardaway Jr. had a team-high 22 points and Kristaps Porzingis added 21.

Star point guard Luka Doncic sat out for Dallas as he nursed left ankle and knee sprains suffered in Monday's game against the Denver Nuggets.

Notable Player Stats

G Devin Booker, PHX: 24 points, 9 rebounds

C Deandre Ayton, PHX: 19 points, 13 rebounds

G Chris Paul: 7 points (2-for-12 FG), 14 assists

G Tim Hardaway Jr., DAL: 22 points

F Kristaps Porzingis, DAL: 21 points

Suns Wake Up in Fourth Quarter

It took a while for Phoenix to get going, but the defending Western Conference champion showed its resiliency in the fourth quarter.

The Suns had struggled from three-point range through the first three quarters, making just eight of their 31 attempts (25.8 percent). They fell behind by as many as eight points in the third quarter. Things turned around in the final frame as Phoenix went 5-for-8 from three in the fourth.

Chris Paul struggled all night, starting 0-for-9 from the field. But he continued orchestrating the offense with seven of his 14 assists coming in the fourth quarter, including this beauty to Deandre Ayton.

The game was tied at 96 with two and a half minutes left, but the Suns closed the game on a 9-2 run to secure the win.

Phoenix had the luxury of facing a Dallas team that was without its closer in Doncic. A fourth quarter surge is great, but the Suns would have had an easier time had they started the game with the same focus and efficiency.

Still, a comeback win is something Phoenix can build on going forward. The team showed grit and toughness to put away the scrappy Mavericks. With this 10-game win streak, the Suns are showing that last year's trip to the NBA Finals was no fluke and they are still among the top teams in the West.

Mavericks' Three-Point Shooting Keeps Them in the Game

With Doncic out of the lineup, the Mavericks needed their role players to produce on Wednesday, and they did just that. Thanks to some efficient shooting from beyond the arc, Dallas kept the game close and even had Phoenix against the ropes at times.

Dallas shot 8-for-17 from three-point range in the first half. A hot start to the third quarter helped the Mavericks build an eight-point lead before the Suns closed the gap. The Mavs went 7-for-11 from deep in the third quarter alone.

Frank Ntilikina (13 points) and Trey Burke (10 points) were surprising contributors and combined to shoot 5-for-5 from beyond the arc.

But the Suns ran the Mavericks off the line in the fourth quarter, allowing just four three-point attempts and Dallas connected on just one of those shots. The Mavericks were outscored 37-25 in the final period.

It can't be expected that the Mavericks will shoot 50 percent from three-point land every night, but Wednesday's performance should be a confidence booster for the team's role players. If Dallas can continue to get contributions from players not named Doncic or Porzingis, it would take the pressure off the two top stars and open up the flow of the offense.

What's Next?

The Suns will go for their 11th straight win Friday in a rematch against the Mavericks, who will be looking to bounce back and put an end to their streak.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic's ankle injury is "not too serious," though he is still likely to miss some time, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

That news comes after Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported testing showed no damage to Doncic's left ankle and knee.

Doncic suffered the ankle injury in the final minute of Monday's win over the Denver Nuggets but was able to walk off the court under his own power.

Despite Monday's injury, the Slovenian has been fairly durable during the early portion of his career while establishing himself as one of the best players in the league.

The 22-year-old was a member of the All-NBA first team last season while averaging 27.7 points, 8.6 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game and has followed with 24.9 points, 7.9 assists and 8.3 rebounds and per game so far in 2021-22.

Few players in the NBA can impact the game in as many ways as the 6'7" point guard, who can hit from the outside, facilitate when defenders collapse on him, get to the rim when lanes open up and contribute on the glass even from the backcourt.

Doncic is the primary reason the Mavericks (9-4) have legitimate hopes to make a deep run in the Western Conference playoffs. They will likely turn toward the combination of Jalen Brunson and Frank Ntilikina for more playing time if he is sidelined.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic suffered a left ankle injury with 44 seconds remaining in Monday's victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Tim MacMahon of ESPN noted Nuggets guard Austin Rivers fell on Doncic's leg as Dallas' go-to playmaker attempted to defend a layup attempt.

"Luka walked off on his own power," Dallas head coach Jason Kidd said. "I think he got rolled up on his lower left leg, so we'll see how he feels tomorrow."

Doncic dealt with a neck injury during the Mavericks' loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series last season but played at least 61 games in each of his first three campaigns in the league.

When healthy, he is on the short list of the best players in the NBA.

He averaged 27.7 points, 8.6 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from three-point range during the 2020-21 campaign. His ability to hit from the outside, find angles to exploit when driving the lane, overpower smaller defenders, set up his teammates and battle for boards from the backcourt stands out.

Doncic has followed with 25.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game in 2021-22.

Frankly, the Mavericks likely don't have much of a realistic chance to compete against the league's best teams without him on the floor.

Look for them to turn toward Jalen Brunson and Frank Ntilikina at point guard if Doncic is sidelined.           

The Atlanta Hawks earned a 113-87 win over the Dallas Mavericks at home in the season opener for both teams on Thursday. Six players scored in double figures to lead the way for Atlanta, led by Cam Reddish's 20 points off the bench.

Hawks star point guard Trae Young had 19 points and dished out 14 assists.

The Hawks also played stellar defense and held the Mavericks to 33.3 percent from the field and 30.2 percent (13-for-43) from three-point range.

The win ends a two-game losing streak against Dallas for the Hawks, who were swept in last year's two-game regular-season series.

Notable Player Stats

Hawks

F Cam Reddish: 20 points off the bench

G Trae Young: 19 points, 14 assists

Mavericks

G Luka Doncic: 18 points (6-for-17 shooting), 11 rebounds, 7 assists

Hawks Blow the Game Open in Third Quarter

The Hawks took control and ran away with the game after halftime, opening the third quarter with a 22-8 run and outscoring the Mavericks 35-20 in the period.

Young, who was held to seven points in the first half, scored 12 points in the third and did a good job orchestrating the offense to set up his teammates for easy scores. He had nine assists in the third quarter alone.

The Hawks also clamped down defensively and made things difficult for the Mavericks both inside and outside.

Young wasn't very efficient, shooting 6-of-16 from the field. But the Hawks also received a ton of contributions from their supporting cast. Along with Reddish's 20 points, John Collins added 16 points and nine rebounds, Clint Capela had 12 points and 13 rebounds, and De'Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic had 11 points each.

The Hawks' balanced attack on Thursday should be their blueprint for success for the rest of the season. Atlanta's depth was on full display and the team was without veterans Lou Williams and Danilo Gallinari, who both sat due to soreness. If the Hawks can keep this up, a second consecutive run to the Eastern Conference Finals is not out of the question.

Mavericks Doomed by Poor Shooting

The Mavericks opened the game going 7-for-26 from the field in the first quarter, and things never got better after that. Despite the outside shots not falling, Dallas kept chucking the ball from three-point range instead of attacking the basket.

Credit Atlanta's defense, which features two great rim protectors in Capela and Collins. Hunter also did an excellent job in his one-on-one matchup with Doncic.

Jalen Brunson had 17 points off the bench and was the only player to shoot efficiently, going 7-for-13. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 14 points on 4-of-9 shooting while Kristaps Porzingis was held to 11 points on 4-of-13 from the field.

Despite a new head coach in Jason Kidd, the Mavericks' offense didn't look much different from last year's. Doncic dominated the ball too many times and the team had no answers when the three-pointers weren't falling. Dallas will need to switch things up if they hope to make a run in this year's postseason. 

What's Next?

The Hawks will return to action on Saturday in a road game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Mavericks will look to bounce back in Saturday's road matchup against the Toronto Raptors.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic surprised patients at Children's Health in Dallas and Plano, Texas, with gift bags that included Jordan Brand gear and a signed photograph.

"I really wish I could have been there to meet and talk to the kids, but hopefully this surprise brought a smile to their faces and encourages them to stay strong," Doncic said of the gesture, per the Dallas Morning News' Brad Townsend. "I just want all the kids and parents to know I'm thinking of them!"

In addition to the Jordan sportswear, each patient received a pizza courtesy of the two-time All-Star.

Doncic was an immediate hit in Dallas, winning the Rookie of the Year in 2018-19. The dynamic playmaker will become an even bigger fixture in the region after signing a five-year, $207.1 million extension this offseason.