Dallas, TX

3 observations following a gutsy Dallas Mavericks win over the Phoenix Suns, 98-89

Published

11 months ago

December 28, 2024

3 observations following a gutsy Dallas Mavericks win over the Phoenix Suns, 98-89

The Dallas Mavericks maintained their stranglehold on the fourth seed in the Western Conference by defeating the Phoenix Suns on the road Friday night, 98-89. Kyrie Irving led a balanced scoring effort for Dallas, scoring 20. Kevin Durant poured in 35 in defeat for the Suns.

With Dallas missing not only Luka Doncic but Dereck Lively, one might’ve expected a lackluster start from the Mavericks. Instead, the threes reigned early, led by three straight from Kyrie Irving, to give Dallas a 14-4 early advantage. Following a Suns timeout, the Mavericks lost focus and allowed Phoenix to get right back in the game. It remained a back-and-forth affair the rest of the quarter, with Kevin Durant sinking tough shots and Dallas finding ways to score. After one quarter, Dallas led 28-25.

The bench unit from Dallas managed to defend well and hit shots in the second quarter and slowly grew the lead back to double digits. Elite role player production from Maxi Kleber (who dunked!), Naji Marshall, and even some work from Dwight Powell kept the pressure on Phoenix. Irving picked up his third foul on a kickout, but head coach Jason Kidd elected to keep him in the contest. Dallas played lockdown defense in the frame and walked into halftime with a 55-39 lead.

Dallas kept the pressure on in the third, holding the double-digit lead. The intense defense got under the skin of Jusif Nurkic, who committed an offensive foul which drew the ire of Naji Marshall. The ensuing kerfuffle escalated to the point where Nurkic, Marshall, and PJ Washington got kicked out. The Mavericks struggled offensively in the quarter, making only four field goals. The Suns weren’t much better and Dallas maintained the large lead until the final minutes when Durant free throws brought the lead back to single digits. Dallas took a 72-64 lead into the final frame.

Klay Thompson got the party started for Dallas in the fourth hitting a pair of distance shots (one was later ruled to be a two pointer) that pulled the momentum back to the Mavericks. The squads exchanged baskets only for the Mavericks to hit more threes than twos and inch back to a 15 point lead. The Suns wouldn’t go quietly, culling the lead back to eight only for a Daniel Gafford dunk via Maxi Kleber to give Dallas enough of a cushion to ride out the game. Dallas took one in Phoenix, 98-89.

Now, some thoughts.

Welcome back, Maxi Kleber

Look guys, Maxi scored 33 points this season prior to his 15-point outburst against the Suns. And with Luka and Lively out and Marshall and Washington ejected, Kleber remembering that he is, in fact, a professional basketball player capable of doing more than some help defense really helped the Mavericks in this game.

Do we expect this kind of game out of Maxi again? He had five double-digit scoring efforts last season in 43 games and this was his first since May, so I think it’s possible he helps out more during the upcoming stretch for the Mavericks. Really, what we should hope for is for Kleber to look confident and play as such. He’s been a shell at times the last two years, his body having suffered some weird injuries. But he’s still a useful player! Here’s hoping it continues.

Find a way to get Kyrie some more rest, please

Kyrie started an incredible 4-of-4 from three. He proceeded to shoot 2 for his next 17, including a ridiculous 1-of-11 from two-point range. The man just couldn’t buy a basket. Of course, it’s fair to think Irving was tired. He gutted out 37 minutes against the Wolves in a loss just two days ago, then Kidd played him for most of the second half (Irving finished with 40 minutes tonight) in large part because he had no one left.

Still, though, if Dallas is to survive (and maybe thrive?) without Doncic these next however many games, it’s important that the other Dallas start doesn’t burn out.

Thoughts on a fight

Just kidding, I’m not that stupid. Well, maybe I am. Marshall sticking up for Gafford was pleasing to see. Marshall punching Nurkic’s clown face was even more pleasing. PJ Washington issuing the shove of Nurk, which ended the fight and might have saved us from actual fisticuffs, was delightful. Love to see players compete and for things to spill over sometimes.

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Dallas, TX

Another injury: Trail Blazers to play Dallas Mavericks without starter

Published

16 hours ago

November 16, 2025

Press Room

Another injury: Trail Blazers to play Dallas Mavericks without starter

DALLAS — The shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers will play without another key player Sunday night. And it involves another point guard.

Starter Jrue Holiday has been ruled out against the Dallas Mavericks with right calf soreness, leaving the Blazers (6-6) without its top three point guards heading into the final game of a five-game trip.

Holiday was not listed on the team’s initial injury report, but the 6-foot-4 veteran awoke Sunday morning with a balky calf and the Blazers labeled him questionable Sunday afternoon. He tested it out during a pregame warmup at American Airlines Center and was later ruled out.

Multiple Blazers players were unaware of Holiday’s injury until about an hour and 15 minutes before tipoff, when news started spreading through the locker room that he would be sidelined.

Portland interim coach Tiago Splitter, who held a pregame interview with reporters before learning that Holiday had been ruled out, said he likely would start Jerami Grant in Holiday’s place. That would leave the Blazers without a true point guard in the lineup, forcing Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe to assume primary ball-handling responsibilities.

Holiday, who is averaging 16.7 points, 8.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, leads the Blazers in assists this season.

The Blazers are already playing without a pair of point guards — Scoot Henderson and Blake Wesley — who have played a combined six games this season. Henderson has been sidelined all season with a left hamstring injury, and Wesley has missed the last six games with a fracture in his right foot.

Holiday’s injury was harsh pregame news for a team that has stumbled to losses in four of its last six games, including three of four on its early-November trip to Miami, Orlando, New Orleans and Houston. The Blazers are coming off their most lopsided defeat of the season, a 140-116 loss at Houston on Friday night that prompted a players-only meeting afterward.

“Next man up is part of the NBA,” Splitter said, when asked about Holiday’s injury. “Everybody has got to be ready.”

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Dallas, TX

Dallas Trinity FC snaps four-game losing streak with road victory over Spokane Zephyr FC

Published

1 day ago

November 16, 2025

Press Room

Dallas Trinity FC snaps four-game losing streak with road victory over Spokane Zephyr FC

Dallas Trinity FC snapped its four-game losing streak with a 2-0 win on the road against Spokane Zephyr FC.

Prosper’s teenage phenom Sealey Strawn opened the scoring in the 29th minute, heading home Samar Guidry’s cross from the right wing.

Spokane had more of the possession (56.5%) and outshot Dallas 17 to eight. Despite that, Trinity made the most of its opportunities and converted both of its shots on target while goalkeeper Rylee Foster kept a clean sheet on the other end.

“We knew that they were going to put some pressure on us, so we were going to have to be really focused” head coach and general manager Chris Petrucelli said. “We’ve had some self-inflicted wounds here in the past few games. The whole thing was about just trying to stay focused and not give up a goal or make a mistake that leads to a goal.”

Rhea Moore became the second teenage goalscorer on the night with a score in second half stoppage time to seal the game for Dallas. Moore received a pass from Tamara Bolt just outside the box and dribbled into it, opening space to shoot and drilling a right footed shot into the near post from just beyond the penalty spot.

Trinity snapped out of a long funk with the win, picking up their first points since Sept. 20 and their first victory since Sept. 6. Things were especially dire for Dallas during the recent losing streak when the team was outscored 13-3.

Despite the difficult stretch, the win places Dallas just one point outside the playoffs with multiple games in hand. Trinity return to action when they host DC Power FC on Dec. 6 at the Cotton Bowl.

Find more Dallas Trinity FC coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

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Dallas, TX

Dallas-Fort Worth business datebook for the week of Nov. 16

Published

2 days ago

November 15, 2025

Press Room

Dallas-Fort Worth business datebook for the week of Nov. 16

Tuesday, Nov. 18

Dallas building powerhouse AECOM reports third-quarter earnings on Tuesday, hoping to best its previous quarter, when it disappointed analysts.

Home Depot also reports third-quarter results.

Wednesday, Nov. 19

In one of the biggest earnings calendar days of the quarter, semiconductor giant Nvidia reports third-quarter earnings along with T.J. Maxx parent company TJX and big box retailers Lowe’s and Target.

The Small Business Administration hosts its Small Business Expo at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. It will feature workshops, classes, networking and help from lenders and investors in how to launch an entrepreneurial journey.

American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Steven B. Kamin will visit the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas for a fireside chat with Dallas Fed vice president Mark A. Wynne. They plan to discuss the role of the dollar at the bank’s office at 2200 N. Pearl St. during a lunch event.

Former CNN and Los Angeles Times CEO Tom Johnson is talking about his book Driven, chronicling his journey from a reporter at the Macon Telegraph in Georgia to leading two of America’s leading news organizations and eventually to the White House. The free event is at Interabang Books at 5:30 p.m.

Fort Worth ISD superintendent Karen Molinar speaks at the Fort Worth Chamber’s Women’s Leadership Summit.

Thursday, Nov. 20

Another big earnings day features Walmart, Intuit, Ross and Gap Inc., along with Dallas-based engineering firm Jacobs, which claims the single-letter stock ticker “J.” Will tariffs and economic headwinds hold Jacobs back?

Dallas native and renowned home architect Larry Boerder talks about Dallas’ unique architectural history at Interabang Books at 5 p.m. Boerder’s firm specializes in prestigious homes in Highland Park, University Park and Preston Hollow with a modern revivalist approach.