How Phoenix’s Dominant Third Quarter Pushed Them Ahead In Series
The Phoenix Suns capped off the third quarter with Mikal Bridges intercepting a pass, streaking down the court and lofting the ball in the air for a Cameron Johnson dunk to put the Suns up 82-60 over the Dallas Mavericks. The play summed up what was an impressive quarter of dominance on the offensive and defensive side of the court.
Phoenix is now a victory away from moving on to the Western Conference Finals following their 110-80 victory over Dallas in Game 5 of the Western Semi-Finals. The 30-point win came after a first half where the Suns led by just three points. Coming out of halftime, the Suns controlled the game, initially out-scoring the Mavericks 33-14 and entered the final quarter with a 22-point lead.
The Suns defense kept the Mavericks scoreless for five minutes while the offense pulled ahead with a 17-0 run. Phoenix suffocated the Mavericks ball movement on offense, stealing the ball seven times. Dallas inflicted its own damage, turning the ball over five times and totalled 12 turnovers in the third quarter.
“But that was one of those third quarter heightened awareness, come out of halftime with some juice, don’t ease into it and I thought we came of the halftime with a great level of defensive focus,” Head Coach Monty Williams said.
“We showed some film at halftime…and they [Suns] came out and raised the level even more.”
On offense, the Suns needed a player to step up, and Devin Booker answered the call. Leading the way for Phoenix, Booker scored 12 points, shooting 4-8 (50%) and 3-5 (60%) from beyond the arc. Booker got the party started for the Suns offensively in the third with a layup and a 25-foot three pointer to keep the Suns’ first half momentum going.
Booker finished his night with the team high in minutes (35) and in points (28).
Apart from Booker, the Suns shot well during the third quarter, shooting 13-of-24 (54%). In contrast, the Mavericks were 6 of 15 (40%).
During Game 4, the Mavericks eviscerated the Suns from beyond the arc, making 20 three-pointers. Phoenix answered back in Game 5, holding Dallas to 8 three-point shots. In the third, the Mavericks struggled to make their three’s, making just one of seven attempts.
“We try to keep them out of our paint,” Booker said in his postgame conference on TNT. “Just guard the ball and stay in front of the ball and make it tough on them.”
Mavericks star Luka Doncic was stalled in the third quarter after attempting just four shots and making two. It was a struggle for Doncic, who was automatic at times during the series. During Game 5, Doncic shot 36% from the field, his lowest percentage during this season's playoffs.
“I thought Mikal [Bridges] and Jae [Crowder], Chris [Paul] with his ability to take charges, they were a bit more physical with him [Doncic] tonight,” Williams said. “You have to do that to the legal limit especially in the playoffs.”
Bridges pressured the Mavericks offense throughout the third quarter, stealing the ball three times and finishing the game with four steals.
“The length of our team and the aggression I think one, you have to pressure the ball, sometimes just pressuring the ball takes away a guy's vision and it allows for guys to get steals away from the ball,” Williams said.
The third quarter push was a large reason for the victory but it could also be the ultimate reason for a series victory. In a series tied 2-2 the winner of game five has won the series 82% of the time.
If Phoenix is celebrating in Dallas on Thursday, the third quarter a couple days prior could be a large reason why the Suns remain alive in their quest for the NBA Finals.
