Facing the potential of an 0-3 series deficit against Phoenix, Jalen Brunson, along with Luka Doncic, led a resurgent Mavericks effort Friday night, as Dallas won Game 3, trimming the Suns’ series lead to 2-1.
They both arrived at the American Airlines Center on Friday night determined to make sure that Game 3 was different. The duo succeeded, spoiling Suns star Chris Paul’s 37th birthday and leading Dallas to a 103-94 win to give the Mavs their first win of the Western Conference semifinals.
Brunson scored a game-high 28 points — six more than he had combined in the first two games of the series — and kept the Mavs comfortably ahead while Doncic sat much of the second half in foul trouble. Doncic finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists and two steals.
“Everybody joined the party,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said, playing off his comment after Game 1 when Doncic didn’t get much support. “They helped out on both ends. Luka was great defensively. He participated, too. It puts us in a different position when that happens.”