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You know, the Suns have actually played some decent games in this losing streak. They hung tough with the Clips for awhile, played the Warriors to a virtual draw at home, and were a goal tend away from overtime in Houston. It's been a miserable season but they showed up in this game with energy, heart and effort and for that deserve our applause.
Clap clap clap clap.
The first half was a rare offensive EXPLOSION. The combination of a Dallas defense with as many holes as a Midland oil patch and Wesley Johnson's insane confidence combined for 61 points on 51 percent shooting.
Wes smiled his way to 17 points on 3-5 long range bombing and Dragic had 16 points and nine assists at the break.
It looked like the Suns were in for another third quarter collapse when the Mavs quickly erased a ten-point deficit faster than a Texas oilman buys a Cadillac and drives it into a tree after a night of binging on steak and whiskey. But on this night, the Suns weren't going to be denied easily rolled.
Wes Johnson's smile turned upside down when his shooting touch deserted him faster than (insert your own Texas joke). He had just zero points in the second half and rode pine for the fourth quarter. But the other Suns were inspired by Wesley and maintained the offensive pressure against the Dallas defense which had deserted dem early but made a late arrival to the American Airlines Center Arena Place.
The Suns fought HARD in the fourth quarter. How hard? Hard as the hardscrabble plains of the Texas panhandle after a half-decade of dust inducing drought. They smelled blood in the water and attacked like sharks. And like a pack of feeding sharks, it was bloody and ugly (and also kind of awesome).
P.J. Tucker was a difference maker with a couple big threes and some really big rebounds. His on-ball defense might be overrated, but his hustle is never in question. He finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds and earned the game ball if basketball teams were football teams and handed out game balls.
In the big picture, this win won't hurt the Suns chances in the lottery and was both an enjoyable and needed victory. Celebrate it.
If you want to talk more about how the Mavs ignored Dirk late in the game in favor of OJ Mayo and Vince Carter jacking up threes, head over to Mavs Moneyball.
Props to BSoS user peachBazket for this awesome Dirk No Shave gif. You might need to hover your mouse over the image to see its magical properties at work.
