The Phoenix Suns beat the Dallas Mavericks 105-98 for their 10th straight win.
Jae Crowder’s 2 free throws put the Suns ahead for good with 2:34 left in the fourth quarter.
Deandre Ayton’s dunk with 1:27 left made it 100-96, and Chris Paul’s 2 free throws with 19.8 seconds left put it away at 105-98.
During clutch time, the Suns outscored the Mavericks 17-7. Crowder scored 5 of the Suns’ 17 on 1 for 2 shooting and 2 for 2 at the line. In the fourth quarter, Paul had 7 of his 14 assists, 2 of them on baskets by Ayton and Mikal Bridges that put the Suns ahead. In that stretch, Bridges had 2 of his 3 steals, and the Suns scored 2 points off them.
Devin Booker had 24 points (11 in the first quarter) and 9 rebounds, and JaVale McGee added 10 points (8 in the paint) and 3 blocks off the bench. Paul assisted on 5 of Ayton’s 9 baskets, 3 of them in the fourth quarter.
For the Mavericks, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 22 points, and Kristaps Porziņģis added 21 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.
The Mavericks forced 8 turnovers, about 5 fewer than usual for this many possessions.