5 Takeaways From Suns Strong Game 1 Win

Mavs Take Game 1

5 Takeaways from Suns Strong Game 1 Win

Despite a big night from Luka Doncic, Phoenix uses its guard depth and the play of center Deandre Ayton to take an early lead in the series.

The Dallas Mavericks fell to the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series on Tuesday night, 121-114. Despite a 35-point performance from Luka Doncic, the Mavs were unable to overcome a strong shooting night from the Suns, who hit 19 three-pointers in the game.

Here are five takeaways from the game:

1. The Suns' guard depth was too much for the Mavs to handle. Devin Booker led the way with 27 points, but Mikal Bridges (21 points), Chris Paul (19 points), and Deandre Ayton (18 points) all made significant contributions.
2. Ayton was a force in the paint. The Suns' center finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and he was a major factor in the Suns' dominance on the boards. The Mavs were outrebounded 45-36.
3. The Mavs' three-point shooting was off. The Mavs hit just 10 of their 36 three-point attempts (27.8%), which is well below their season average of 35.3%.
4. The Mavs' defense was not able to contain the Suns' offense. The Suns shot 51.4% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range. The Mavs need to find a way to improve their defensive intensity in Game 2.
5. The Mavs are still in this series. Despite the Game 1 loss, the Mavs are still very much alive in this series. They have a chance to tie things up in Game 2 on Thursday night.

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