Booker's buzzer beater lifts Suns over Mavericks
DALLAS -- Devin Booker drilled a turnaround jumper at the buzzer to lift the Phoenix Suns to a 100-98 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night at American Airlines Center.
The Suns (22-44) finished the game with an 8-2 kick to snap a two-game losing streak. Booker scored all eight points to finish with a game-high 36 on 12-of-20 shooting.
For the Mavericks, it was a bitter pill to swallow in their season-ending playoff push. Dallas saw its season high-tying four-game winning streak halted.
Those first four wins came on a this homestand. The fifth seemed in the Mavs' sights with a 96-92 lead after Devin Harris' 3-pointer with two minutes left.
But that only set up Booker's final flurry.
T.J. Warren added 16 points for the Suns, who were without starting center Alex Len. Eric Bledsoe added 12 points and Alan Williams scored 10 off the bench.
Dirk Nowitzki and Harrison Barnes led the Mavs with 23 points apiece. Harris had 14 points off the bench and Yogi Ferrell scored 13.
Dallas (28-37) rallied from a 77-72 deficit early in the fourth quarter with a 14-4 run, but could never get any separation. The Suns stayed close throughout behind Booker and Warren.
The Mavs shot only 37.8 percent. Phoenix held a 38-20 edge in points in the paint.
Nowitzki started fast, scoring Dallas' first nine points and 11 of 13. He went into halftime with 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting and eight boards, and the Mavs were up 47-45.
Booker scored 11 and Warren had 10 points at the break. The Suns were down despite holding Dallas to 38.9 percent shooting.
The Mavs embark on a four-game road trip starting Monday north of the border in Toronto. It's a critical trek for Dallas, which has lost its last four on the road and is only 8-22 away.
Phoenix returns home for a Sunday tilt against Portland.
NOTES: Dallas C Nerlens Noel (sore left knee) missed his second straight game. The hope is he can play Monday at Toronto, according to coach Rick Carlisle. ... Phoenix C Alex Len (right hip contusion) was out. Rookie F Derrick Jones, Jr. made his first career start. ... The Mavs assigned G Manny Harris and F Jarrod Uthoff to the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League. ... Phoenix is 5-6 on the second night of back-to-backs. ... Nowitzki played in his 1,379th career game and need one more to tie Clifford Robinson for 10th in NBA history.