The never-say-die Dallas Mavericks put up a valiant, short-handed effort against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, losing 112-107. Devin Booker was the high scorer and all-around best player for the Suns, scoring 37 to go along with five rebounds and nine assists. John Poulakidas led Dallas in scoring off the bench, pouring in 23 and making it look easy.

Both the Mavericks and Suns were on fire early from the three-point line. The teams traded leads, with neither squad playing much defense. Both Cooper Flagg and Jalen Green exited the game early with injury issues and it was unclear if either would return. The Mavericks stayed feisty and stuck with the Suns, trailing 33-29 after one quarter.

With Cooper Flagg returning in the second, Dallas tried to keep pace with the Suns and managed for most of the quarter. The hot outside shooting from Dallas cooled but getting to the line allowed Dallas to match scoring with the Suns. But after tying it at 50 with 4:22 remaining, the Mavericks would score only three points the rest of the quarter. The Suns scored slowly and built up a 61-53 to take into the half.

Before the second half started began, it was reported that Jalen Green would not return. The Suns opened the half blowing up their lead to as many as 18 as Dallas looked half asleep. The Mavericks, of course, spent the rest of the period whittling that lead back down to zero only to unravel in the final few minutes. The score entering the fourth was the same difference as when the second half began: the suns lead 88-80.

Dallas would not go away. The Mavericks stormed back once again, taking a 95-93 lead with around eight minutes remaining. Following a Suns timeout, Phoenix retook the lead but not before the Mavericks entered the 45th CLUTCH game of their season, being down five with under five minutes to go. In the first really obvious tanking move I can remember, Kidd pulled all his starters and they STILL managed to keep the game within three points until a Devin Booker three sealed the game with 1:12 remaining. The Mavericks fall, 112-107.

Have yourself a game, John Poulakidas

I make it a point not to get too invested in two-way players. If a two-way player matters, the season is usually lost. But that doesn’t mean I’m against a good story, and the Yale guard has been fun for Dallas these last 40 days or so. He scored his first NBA points three weeks ago and just nine games later, scores a career high 23 points on some great looking shots.

To be honest, I have no idea if he has a spot on a NBA team. He plays real hard and has a key skill in terms of shot making that teams can use. He tries hard on defense, but considering Dallas is so bad at defense I’ve no idea how to rate him. Perhaps he can go to Summer League with the Mavericks?

The Suns have a lot of good players I enjoy watching

Dillon Brooks is an acquired taste at best, but I very much appreciate the games of Collin Gillespie and Khaman Maluach. The former helped control the game for the Suns on the offensive end while the latter was fantastic on the boards for the Suns, grabbing 14 in his first start. I’m not sure how the pieces all fit with this team; Booker is awesome and Jalen Green has a ton of talent.

AJ Johnson might be the worst NBA contract player on the Mavericks in years

Tonight, Johnson shot 1-11 from the floor. He’s now 20-72 from the field in his short time with the Mavericks. Professional basketball players cannot shoot 27% from the floor. His finishing is weak (he loses the ball on drives), his shot from distance looks as if he’s blind, and his defense is that of a grade schooler. Sorry if this is too harsh. Whoever drafted and signed him should not be allowed to make personnel decisions.