Kevin Durant’s 35 not enough as Phoenix Suns fall to Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks

Kevin Durant scored 35 points and Bradley Beal struggled to just 11 (5-of-18 FG) as Phoenix Suns lost at home, 98-89, to Dallas Mavericks on Friday.

This is the Suns’ third loss in Devin Booker’s absence in four games since he was sidelined with a left groin injury. The Suns (15-15) fell back to .500 for the third time this season.

The Mavericks (20-11) were led by Durant’s former Brooklyn teammate Kyrie Irving (20 points, 5-of-10 from 3, five assists), Spencer Dinwiddie (15 points), Maxi Kleber (15 points) and their top big Daniel Gafford (16 points, five rebounds). The Mavs were without star player Luka Doncic.

Phoenix trailed all game and had its largest deficit of 18 in the third quarter. They were down by double digits for most of the contest.

The team had solid contributions from reserves Royce O’Neale and Josh Okogie. O’Neale tallied 14 points (4-of-9 from 3), five rebounds and four assists. Josh Okogie posted eight points, four rebounds and two steals.

The most exciting moment of the game was when Phoenix’s Jusuf Nurkic and Dallas’ Naji Marshall and PJ Washington were ejected after they were involved in a fight at 9:02 left in the third quarter.

The Suns play the second of back-to-back games at the Golden State Warriors on Saturday at 18.30

Suns’ Nurkic, 2 Mavericks players ejected on 3rd

Kevin Durant scored 15 of his 28 points in the third quarter and Phoenix is ​​still down 72-64.

But an argument in the neighborhood was by far the most intense moment of the fight.

With the Suns down 60-44 at the 9:02 mark, Nurkic was called for an offensive foul for catching Daniel Gafford on a pass, causing them both to fall.

As Nurkic walked back toward the Mavericks’ end of the floor, he stopped and said something as he walked toward Kyrie Irving’s crouch. Nurkic and Naji Marshall then exchanged more words, and Nurkic took a swing at Marshall, igniting the dust-up. Marshall hit Nurkic in the neck and then PJ Washington pushed Nurkic.

After the scrap was reviewed by officials, all three players were assessed Flagrant 2 fouls, leading to automatic ejections.

The Suns then went on a brief 6-0 run to cut the lead to 10 at 6:26, but the Mavericks pushed the lead back to 18 on Kyrie Irving’s fifth make from deep at 3:45. Durant led the Suns on a 12-2 run to close the third and trimmed the lead to eight.

Mavericks extend lead, Suns struggle in 2nd quarter

Phoenix is ​​down by its biggest deficit, 55-39 at halftime. The Suns committed five of their seven turnovers in the second quarter.

Durant has the Suns’ team-high 13 points, but he cooled off from his 4-of-4 hot start in the opening period and went just 1-of-5 at halftime. Beal had nine points (4-of-11).

The Mavericks’ Irving had a game-high 15 points and their big Daniel Gafford had 10.

The Suns’ shooting fell to 3-of-12 overall in the second quarter after hitting 10-of-25 in the first.

Durant, Suns answer Irving, Maverick surge in 1st quarter

Phoenix trails Dallas 28-25 entering the second quarter.

Former Brooklyn teammates Durant and Irving both had the hot hands in the opening period. Durant had nine points on a perfect 4-for-4, and Irving scored a game-high 12 on 4-of-6 shooting, all from deep.

The Suns got off to a slow start as the Mavericks jumped out to a 14-4 lead, thanks to Irving hitting his first three attempts. After the Suns called timeout at 8:45 to stop the early bleeding, the Suns answered the Mavericks’ early surge with an 8-0 run of their own led by Beal (five points) and Durant, along with two steals by Ryan Dunn and Jusuf Nurkic.

Irving hit his fourth trey to put the Mavericks up 17-12, then the Suns’ Tyus Jones and the Mavericks’ Maxi Kleber traded 3s.

Josh Okogie contributed two made 3s off the bench for the Suns.

Starting lineups

The Suns will start Tyus Jones and Bradley Beal in the backcourt, Ryan Dunn at the three, Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkic in the middle.

The Mavericks open with Irving running the point, two-guard Thompson, forwards Naji Marshall and PJ Washington, and Daniel Gafford at center.

Suns’ Allen, Bol out

Phoenix sharpshooter Grayson Allen (concussion) and 7-footer Bol Bol (left knee) will miss their fourth straight games. Collin Gillespie and TyTy Washington are both out on G League assignments.

Dallas great Dereck Lively II (hip) and Dante Exum (wrist) are out.

This article originally appeared on the Arizona Republic: Durant scores 35, Suns lose without Booker to Irving, Dallas Mavericks