Recap: Phoenix Suns defeat the Dallas Mavericks 124-97 in season finale

It didn’t start out being an enjoyable game to watch but that changed in the second half. Alec Peters stepped up to lead the Suns with 36 points - a career high - and he was just one rebound short of getting his first career double-double as well as he pulled down 9.

Shaquille Harrison did get his first career double-double though as he scored 18 points and had 10 assists. Dragan Bender also joined the double-double party with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Three other Suns also scored in double figures tonight with Alex Len getting 18, Danuel House getting 16 and Tyler Ulis getting 14.

Johnathan Motley led the Mavericks with 21. Aaron Harrison had 16 and Jalen Jones had 15.

The Suns shot 63.2% from the field and 50.0% from three. Dallas shot 38.5% from the field and 24.2% from three.

Neither team had more than 8 active players tonight. For the Suns it was Danuel House, Dragan Bender, Alex Len, Tyler Ulis, Jared Dudley, Shaquille Harrison, Alec Peter and Davon Reed. For Dallas it was Dorian Finney-Smith, Johnathan Motley, Dwight Powell, Aaron Harrison, Kyle Collinworth, Yogi Ferrell, Jalen Jones and Maxi Kleber.

If you turned away from the game before the second half (as I actually wished I could have at times), you missed a nice performance by Alec Peters and the rest of the B-team Suns in the second.

In the grand scheme of things it was a meaningless game for the Suns but it was fun to watch Peters get his 36 points (8-13/61.5% from 3) and the Suns get a win in their final game of the season.

1st Quarter

I honest don’t recognize any of the Dallas players that are on the court.

Several missed shots by both teams before Dallas finally scores on a pair of free throws.

The first field goal isn’t scored until the 10:40 mark by Dallas.

The scoring finally picked up and the Suns take a 11-10 lead at 6:45. Alex Len has scored 8 of the Suns’ 11. Bender has the other 3.

It’s not great looking basketball tonight. Dallas is now ahead 18-15.

Peters hits a three and Dallas answers in kind. So far Davon Reed is the only Suns guard or wing to score. Len, Bender and Peters have scored 16 of the Suns’ 18 as time out is called at 2:37. Dallas leads 23-18.

Shaq with a great dunk off a Ulis assist! Something exciting happened!

Tie game at 23-23.

Peters with a long 3. The Suns are up 27-26.

The quarter ends with the Suns leading 29-26.

Len has 10. Peters has 9. Motley and Powell lead the Mavs with 6 each.

2nd Quarter

Jared Dudley gets a block! A clean block!

The game is tied 31-31 at 9:50.

Time out at 7:15 with Dallas leading 39-37. It has not been much of a game so far to watch. Danuel House is the only player on either team that has yet to score. Neither team has more than eight players available tonight and everyone has already spent time on the floor.

Sloppy play by the Suns and Dallas is now up 43-37. at 4:59.

Well, one half of basketball has been played (sort of) and the Mavericks take a 54-44 lead into halftime.

At the Half

Alex Len and Alec Peters lead the Suns with 12 points each and Tyler Ulis has 8 and 4 assists. Dragan Bender has 6 rebounds. Danuel House went 0-5 in the first half and has yet to score. Jonathan Motley and Aaron Harrison lead the Mavs with 12 each. Kyle Collinsworth has 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

Phoenix is actually out shooting Dallas so far 48.6% vs 40.8% FG and 36.4% vs 31.2% 3PT but the Suns have committed 9 turnovers vs only 3 for the Mavs. Dallas has also had 49 field goal attempts vs only 35 for the Suns. Dallas also leads the Suns in steals 5 to 2.

It’s not been pretty so far... but I doubt anyone expected it to be.

3rd Quarter

The 3rd quarter starts off looking a little better as the Suns cut Dallas’ lead to 56-49 at 10:45.

Shaq flies in for a put back dunk! Dallas still leads by 7 as time is called.

The Suns have already committed 2 more turnovers in the first 3 minutes of the quarter.

The Suns have hit a few baskets after a few Dallas misses and suddenly the Suns lead 61-60 at 7:30.

Danuel House finally gets on the board. Now everyone has scored and everyone should get a participation trophy.

Oh yeah, Suns lead 65-64.

Whoa! House gets another two on a high flying dunk! Suns up 67-64 with 4:39 to play in the quarter.

Peters has hit 5-7 threes and has 18 points... a career high I believe. Suns lead 75-72 as time is called at 2:28.

Peters and Len both have 18 for the Suns. Motley leads the Mavs with 16.

Peters hits another 3! He now has 21 points. Lol, the Dallas announcers just called him “Allen” Peters.

The Suns are now up 81-76.

The 3rd quarter ends with the Suns leading 83-76.

Peters hit a two at the end of the quarter to give him 23 points for the game... so far.

That quarter was actually kind of fun to watch.

4th Quarter

Peters hits another three to start the 4th quarter! He now has 26 points and has hit 7 of 9 three point attempts.

Shaq Harrison scores on a drive and the Suns are suddenly up 88-77.

With 8:53 to go the Suns are up 94-78.

A volleyball game broke out around the Dallas basket before the ball was finally smacked out to the three point line and Dallas hits one from there.

Alec Peters has hit another three and now has 31 points. Suns lead 103-85 with 5:54 to play.

Peters gets another one! He now has 34 points! Suns lead 108-87 after Peters get fouled on the way to the basket and hits two free throws. He now has 36 points.

Peters feeds Bender inside for two and the Suns lead 110-88 at 4:27.

The Suns now lead 114-88 as timeout is called at 4:04. Alec Peters has almost single-handedly made this second half fun to watch. I hope he gets 40 points before the game ends.

Shaq with another slam! Suns lead 116-90.

Bender with the three! He has 15 now and 12 rebounds.

The Suns are now up 122-92 at 1:25 after a dunk by House.

The Suns are feeding Peters trying to get him another score but he has rushed his last few shots and missed.

Suns win 124-97!

This game and this season is over.