3 takeaways from Dallas Mavericks Game 5 playoff loss to Suns

Takeaway from Dallas Mavericks Game 5 playoff loss to Suns: 2. Turnovers

The Mavs averaged just 12.5 turnovers per game during the regular season, which ranked third in the NBA. They pride themselves on taking care of the ball and limiting transition opportunities for the opposition. Coming into Game 5, Dallas had dropped their turnovers to just 9.7 per game in the playoffs, which led the league.

Things unraveled for the Mavericks in the third quarter as they uncharacteristically turned the ball over, and the reigning Western Conference champions made them pay. Dallas had 12 giveaways in the period as the Suns went for 33 points. The Mavs had just 14 points in the third quarter, and Phoenix took control of the pivotal game.

The Suns did not let the Mavericks get anything easy in Game 5. They forced Luka Doncic into tough shots and shut down the rest of the Mavs. It resulted in an ugly performance from Dallas and put all the pressure on them as the series shifts back to Texas.

Dallas cannot turn the ball over against one of the best teams in the NBA. Above all, fans can point to their nine to 16 assist to turnover ratio as the key reason the Mavericks lost on Tuesday night. They were trying to do too much, and the Suns made them pay at the Footprint Center.