Suns jump all over Mavericks, break home losing streak
Dillon Brooks scored 15 of his 23 points in the first quarter, Devin Booker added 19 points, and the host Phoenix Suns broke a three-game home losing streak with a 120-111 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.
Mark Williams scored 13 points, Oso Ighodaro had 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, and Royce O'Neale chipped in 12 points for the Suns, who led by 31 late in the second quarter before holding on.
Naji Marshall scored 31 points off the bench and Cooper Flagg scored 27 points for the Mavericks, who have lost eight in a row -- the last three after sending Anthony Davis to Washington at the trade deadline.
Marshall's floater brought the Mavericks within 115-109 with 2:09 remaining, the closest the Mavs had been since the first quarter, before Booker made a jumper and a free throw for a nine-point cushion. P.J. Washington and Brooks traded baskets to end the scoring.
O'Neale made four 3-pointers and Booker made three as the Suns went 16 of 50 from distance. Dallas was 5 of 22, Marshall and Washington hitting two apiece.
The Mavericks stayed in the game by making 32 of 44 free throw attempts. Flagg was 11 of 14. The Suns were 6 of 9.
The Suns, who led 65-48 at halftime, won their first home game since beating Cleveland 126-113 on Jan. 30.
Brooks' 15 first-quarter points came on 7 of 9 shooting, and his 3-pointer triggered a 16-3 run that gave the Suns a 36-16 lead at the end of the quarter. Jalen Green had nine points off the bench in the period.
The Suns stretched the lead to 61-30 on Brooks' jumper with 4:37 remaining in the half before the Mavericks began working their way back.
Flagg scored eight points as the Mavs used an 18-1 run late in the first half to close to 62-48 before O'Neale's 3-pointer made it 65-48 at half.
O'Neale's 3-pointer gave the Suns an 81-57 lead midway through the third quarter, and the lead was 96-75 after three quarters.
Flagg's three-point play brought Dallas within 102-89 with nine minutes left, starting a late run.
The Mavericks played without Klay Thompson (rest). Suns guard Grayson Allen (knee) missed his second straight game.