Mavericks lose heartbreaker to Suns despite Luka Doncic going for 28

The Dallas Mavericks had their four-game win streak snapped by the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 20. It took a fourth-quarter comeback from the Suns to win their ninth consecutive meeting against the Mavs. Dallas was up eight entering the final stanza, but the Suns picked up the 109-101 victory in the TNT broadcast.

Luka Doncic was fresh off his best game of the season where he scored 41 points in a win over the Raptors. The 22-year-old superstar injured his neck in the second of a back-to-back, but that did not stop Luka from finishing the game and producing another massive stat line.

It was not Doncic’s best game, but he finished with 28 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and one steal against the Suns. Luka went nine of 23 from the field, and the 22-year-old had eight turnovers. It was an impressive performance from Doncic and the Mavs on the second night of a back-to-back. Here is a look at more.

Mavericks lose heartbreak to Suns despite 28 points from Luka Doncic

Doncic played 38 minutes on the second night of a back-to-back and had the Mavs leading by eight heading into the final period. The Suns closed the game strong, but Luka and his team gave Phoenix all they could handle.

Defense kept the Mavericks in the game on Thursday night. The Suns had just 45 points in the first half, and it took 35 points in the fourth to defeat Dallas at the American Airlines Center. The Mavs are buying in on the defensive end of the floor, and have transformed themselves into one of the best units in the NBA.

Luka committed eight of the Mavs' 19 turnovers on Thursday night, and the team shot just 30.6 percent from 3-point range. It was a winnable game for Dallas that they let slip through their fingers in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks once again proved they can defeat any foe.

Luka Doncic has scored 20-plus in nine straight games, and the 22-year-old superstar is just starting to play his best basketball of the season. The Dallas Mavericks host the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night in a pivotal division contest. Fans won’t want to miss it, so be sure to tune in and enjoy.