Luka Doncic and Mavericks dominate Suns in Game 7 to advance to conference finals

The Dallas Mavericks crushed the Phoenix Suns from the opening tipoff in Game 7 on their way to a 123-90 win to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Luka Doncic came out hot and was not going to let the Mavs lose. Head coach Jason Kidd brought the perfect game plan and Dallas executed it on their way to a win that was never in doubt in Phoenix.

Phoenix never found their footing in Game 7. After scoring a season-low 86 points in Game 6, the Suns had just 27 points in the first half and only ten in the second quarter. Credit the Mavericks defense that has been vastly improved this season. It carried Dallas on Sunday night and has put them into the Western Conference Finals for the fifth time in franchise history.

It was an incredible performance by Luka Doncic and the Mavs. The 23-year-old superstar dominated from the opening tipoff in the biggest game of his NBA career. Phoenix had the best regular-season record in the league, and the Mavericks beat them in four of the last five games to take the series.

Luka Doncic and Mavericks dominate Suns in Game 7 to advance to Western Conference Finals

It was a historic performance from the Mavs as they knocked out the top-seeded Suns, who entered the postseason as title favorites. Doncic came out hot on Sunday night, and the team never looked back.

Luka had 27 first-half points in Game 7 as the Mavericks held the Suns to just 27. Yes, you read that correctly. Doncic scored as many as the entire Suns' roster in the first half.

Number 77 finished with 35 points, ten rebounds, four assists, and two steals in Game 7. He made 12 of 19 from the field, including six 3-pointers as the Mavericks outscored the Suns by 37 in his 30 minutes on the floor. It was an unbelievable performance where he left no doubt about his ability to win in the postseason. Luka had an incredible series to lift Dallas into the Western Conference Finals.

Spencer Dinwiddie came to life in Game 7. He had just 50 points in the first six games combined before exploding for 21 in the first half on Sunday night. Dallas needed someone to step up on the road to win Game 7, and the 6’5 guard answered that challenge on May 15 with a 30-point performance.

Jalen Brunson came alive in the second half after scoring just two in the first 24 minutes. The 6’1 guard finished with 24 points on 11 of 19 shooting from the field in Game 7. He has silenced any doubters about his ability to perform in the playoffs as Brunson has averaged nearly 23 points per game in their 13 so far this year, and he led Dallas to two wins over the Jazz without Luka Doncic in the first round.

Everybody was picking the Suns entering the series. That belief was cemented when Phoenix went up 2-0 and 3-2 in this series, but the Mavericks never doubted themselves. They knew they had the best player in the series, and head coach Jason Kidd kept making the right adjustments.

The biggest was switching the defense on Devin Booker in Game 6. The three-time All-Star’s struggles continued in Game 7 as he went just three of 14 from the field on his way to 11 points, and it was a key piece of the Mavericks running away with the decisive game.

The Mavs advancing should come as no surprise to fans. Their defense has significantly improved this year and was a top ten unit all season. Dallas had the second-best regular-season record in 2022, and they just topped the only team that was better than them. The Mavericks can win the championship this year, and they got one step closer on Sunday night.

The Western Conference Finals begin on May 18 as the Dallas Mavericks head to San Francisco to take on the Golden State Warriors. Luka Doncic will be ready for that challenge, and fans should believe the Mavs can win. It has been a fun ride so far, and more is on the way, so please tune in and check back to The Smoking Cuban for all the latest on their upcoming series.