The Mavericks played with great aggression in this game, maintaining a significant lead in the first half. Even when the Suns closed in during the third quarter, they were still able to maintain their scoring advantage in the final quarter, ultimately defeating the Suns 98-89. It's worth noting that Doncic did not play in this game.
Three players had outstanding performances throughout the game. Thompson, after entering the court at a critical moment in the final quarter, played exceptionally well overall. He was able to control both offense and defense, grabbing rebounds and making key plays, finishing with an impressive stat line of 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, showcasing his versatility on the court. Gafford also performed well, especially after Nurkic was ejected, as he stepped up and contributed 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks, exerting good pressure on the interior. Kleber took control of the situation in the closing moments, scoring on offense and making steals and free throws on defense, exploding on both ends of the court, becoming the ace in the hole for this match.
Irving, Dinwiddie, PJ, Marshall, and Powell all had passable performances. Irving's biggest issue in this game was missing shots; he started off well in the first quarter but struggled to maintain his accuracy, ending with a 6-for-21 shooting record. However, he must assert himself on the court, whether it be through defense or ball handling, and use his excellent ability to draw defenders to help stabilize the team's advantage. Additionally, Irving's plus-minus rating wasn't bad. Dinwiddie's main problem in this game was being too individualistic, leaving other players watching from the sidelines. Fortunately, he didn't lead the team to lose points, which was enough.
Both PJ and Marshall were ejected, but their performances were not bad. PJ maintained perfect positioning, although he had some turnovers while holding the ball, he managed to shoot 2-for-4 from three-point range. Marshall also shot 2-for-3, showing good form, but unfortunately had to leave the game early. Powell played more of a blue-collar role in this game, without scoring any points, but contributed with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block, making for a very solid performance.
Gleams was the only one who had a disastrous performance. In the closing moments, he continuously missed shots, causing the team to lose points. With a shooting record of 3-for-9 and a plus-minus of -10, he was the weakest point on the team.