The Dallas Mavericks completely collapsed in the fourth quarter of Game 2 against the Phoenix Suns. Despite having a lead going into the second half, the Mavericks slumped to a 20-point loss, getting outscored by 14 in the fourth quarter. Chris Paul was brilliant, eliminating the Mavs from contention with a scorching hot run in the fourth quarter. This was his fourth game in the post-season with 10 or more points in the fourth quarter.
CP3’s brilliance was aided by strong performances by the likes of Devin Booker and Jae Crowder, who dwarfed out Luka Doncic’s 35-point night. Doncic is averaging 40 points through the first two games, but the Mavericks offense just doesn’t look up to the task.
Fans on Twitter were blown away by the number of fouls called in the game, Doncic’s 24-point first half, and Paul’s sensational fourth-quarter performance.
Chris Paul – 28 Points, 8 Assists, 6 Rebounds, 68% FG
Devin Booker – 30 Points, 4 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 58% FG
What a duo🔥🔥🔥…Suns go up 2-0. pic.twitter.com/XoQsuSUvdY
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 5, 2022
CP3!!!!!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 5, 2022
Incredibly, incredibly rude 2nd half and especially 4th quarter from the Suns and CP3. Just very impolite hosting.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) May 5, 2022
This is just absolutely unreal. @CP3 is putting on an absolute SHOW. He truly is the Point GOD! The CLOSER! What a sensational performance.#Unbelievable
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 5, 2022
Chris Paul, playing the best basketball of his life at nearly 37, just stared down the Mavs' bench after scoring yet again. He is playing possessed.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 5, 2022
Chris Paul is a baaaaddd man
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 5, 2022
Watching Chris Paul in the 4th pic.twitter.com/veThNWbTHo
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) May 5, 2022
Fourth quarter Chris Paul takeovers are just a special experience to watch unfold. Incredible what he’s doing right now.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 5, 2022
Another late-game masterpiece from Chris Paul. It's the 4th time this postseason he's scored 10-plus points in the fourth quarter – tops in the NBA.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 5, 2022
Suns had 75.7% true shooting percentage, the second highest all-time in the playoffs, per @ESPNStatsInfo.
The highest: Clippers at 77.8% in Game 5 of the 2020 first round vs. Mavericks.
— Tim MacMahon (@BannedMacMahon) May 5, 2022
Mavs lead Suns 60-58 at half after a strong second quarter.
Luka Doncic: 24 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds
All the Mavs: 10 of 20 from three
Tony Brothers' crew: 30 fouls
— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) May 5, 2022
What is going on I've never seen so many fouls called in a game before
— Real Mavs Fans (@realmavsfans) May 5, 2022
https://twitter.com/Kofie/status/1522068557277933570
Luka vs Book show always gonna be entertaining! 🍿
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) May 5, 2022
this is not a "Luka needs to get in shape" game. this is a "the mavericks have to figure out how to make sure Luka doesn't have to do everything" game.
— Josh Bowe (@Boweman55) May 5, 2022
https://twitter.com/BigWos/status/1522051148642865152
We’re blessed to watch Chris Paul still doing this in 2022. What a masterclass fourth quarter
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) May 5, 2022
chris paul gonna do all this in the fourth quarter and put a 10pm curfew on his teammates. one of one.
— alex (@steven_lebron) May 5, 2022
While the Mavericks did start the game by going down by 10 points early in the first quarter, they fought back with a roar led by Doncic’s amazing first-half performance where there was no way the Suns could stop him. However, that worked out for them as Doncic came into the second half noticeably sluggish and a little gassed.
The Suns exploited the workload Luka has and started hunting him for defensive matchups in the fourth quarter, with CP3 doing that the most. The same way Doncic has closed out so many games this season by switching on to the opposition’s best player, CP3 did that to him this game.
The Suns are looking like a well-oiled machine and primed to eliminate the Mavericks from their first second-round appearance since 2011. However, with Doncic being the brilliant offensive player that he is, it still won’t be easy for the Suns when they go to Dallas for Game 3.
