DALLAS — A thrilling finish saw Jusuf Nurkic sink a crucial free throw with just 0.8 seconds remaining, guiding the Phoenix Suns to a narrow 114-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.
Kevin Durant contributed significantly with 26 points, while Nurkic notched 15 points along with 10 rebounds, marking the Suns’ impressive start to the season at 8-1, their best record since the 2009-10 season. This victory also included two wins against the defending Western Conference champions, Dallas.
Nurkic’s pivotal dunk on a putback from a missed Durant shot propelled the Suns ahead with only 31 seconds left on the clock. However, the Mavericks managed to equalize at 113 after an alley-oop dunk from Luka Doncic, who shone with a performance of 30 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds.
In the closing moments, Royce O’Neale, who scored 18 points, attempted a layup but missed. Nurkic snagged the rebound and was fouled by several Mavericks players as the buzzer sounded, ultimately causing Daniel Gafford to foul out.
Doncic had a chance to steal the win with a last-ditch 3-pointer but fell short as the clock ran out.
Devon Booker added some support for the Suns, finishing with 13 points and 12 assists, while Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 29 points and Naji Marshall contributed 18 points.
In terms of overall performance, O’Neale’s impactful performance off the bench helped the Phoenix reserves outscore Dallas’s bench 28-18, continuing their trend from the earlier matchup where they led 23-9.
For the Mavericks, Gafford faced foul troubles during the game, especially with frontcourt partner Dereck Lively II sidelined due to a sprained shoulder, forcing Dwight Powell to play a season-high 25 minutes while also dealing with foul issues.
A significant moment in the game came from Nurkic’s timely rebound following O’Neale’s lone miss, as he could not capitalize on an otherwise stellar shooting night, finishing 7 of 8.
Statistically, while Phoenix didn’t dominate the offensive rebounding battle with only an 11-8 edge, they secured several key boards in the second half, including Nurkic’s pivotal one that sealed the game.
Looking ahead, the Suns are set to host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, while the Mavericks will take on the Denver Nuggets the same night.