USA TODAY International Edition
Suns have a series as Mavs tie it with a win
DALLAS – Five days ago, the Phoenix Suns left home with a 2- 0 lead over the Dallas Mavericks and fans serenading them with chants of “Suns in Four!”
But five days in the NBA playoffs is a lifetime, and after two games and two losses at American Airlines Center, the Suns could use a lifeline.
Their defense weakened. Their offense stalled. And their 37- year- old point guard, Chris Paul, played like a 37year- old.
The Mavericks looked like the far better team, especially in Game 4 on Sunday in the Western Conference semifinal series. They made an astounding 14 of 24 3- pointers in the first half, and when the Mavs finally cooled off in the second half, the Suns were too disjointed to take advantage.
Paul’s problems were a huge reason for the 111- 101 loss. He picked up his fourth foul on the last play of the first half, his fifth just 2 minutes into the third and his sixth and last about 1: 30 after entering the game in the fourth.
It was his second consecutive poor game. He followed up a performance in Game 3 that included seven turnovers by fouling out early in the fourth quarter in Game 4, leaving with five points.
The final two minutes of the second and third quarters were filled with the items that doomed the Suns for the entire game.
The Suns trailed by nine points with 2: 21 left in the second quarter. A strong finish could have flipped the game. Instead, they missed four shots, including two wide- open 3- point attempts, and Paul picked up his fourth foul just before time expired.
Game 5 is in Phoenix on Tuesday.