The Phoenix Suns moved the ball effectively to find open shots and outlast the Dallas Mavericks in a 129-109 Game 2 win Wednesday night.
Six Suns players finished with at least nine points, led by guards Devin Booker and Chris Paul. Booker led the team with 30 points while Paul added 28, 14 of which came in another dominant fourth quarter for the Point God.
The Suns’ third bucket of the game was a preview into their stout ball movement for the rest of the night. Booker passed out of a double team to Paul, who swung the ball to Jae Crowder.
Crowder then passed to Mikal Bridges in the corner, who drove past Dallas guard Jalen Brunson’s closeout prompting big man Dwight Powell to shuffle over.
Bridges found Deandre Ayton coming down the lane for an easy and emphatic two-handed slam.
Came out hot. pic.twitter.com/eoIYzDx3lH
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 5, 2022
Phoenix’s role players had clean looks throughout the game. The combination of Crowder, Bridges, JaVale McGee and Bismack Biyombo shot 16-for-20 from the floor.
The Suns shot 52% from deep as a team.
Phoenix had 28 assists on Wednesday after 27 in Game 1. It averaged 27.8 assists in Round 1 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Dallas led 60-58 going into halftime after a foul-filled opening 24 minutes. The Suns jumped back in front in the third quarter before sprinting away in the fourth.
Phoenix outscored the Mavs 40-26 in the final 12 minutes.
The Suns lead 2-0 in the series heading to Dallas.
Game 3 is set for Friday at 6:30 p.m. The action will air on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.