Devin Booker and Phoenix Suns try to maintain 'sense of urgency'

The Phoenix Suns didn't let their lead slip away in their home opener.

After giving up leads in their first two games, the Suns never trailed in Saturday's 114-102 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at the Footprint Center after Royce O'Neale gave them a 22-19 lead with 2:33 left had brought first quarter.

“Played closer to a complete game,” Suns star guard Devin Booker said. “There was no stress when we got up at the start of the second quarter. We gave up on leads this year. I’m just trying to maintain a sense of urgency.”

The Suns (2-1) built a 13-point lead midway through the second quarter, but the Mavs (1-1) pulled within one point (68-67) with 9:11 left in the third quarter.

Phoenix responded with a 15-4 run and went up to 12 points later in the third when Kevin Durant finished with five points. The Suns led by as many as 15 with 6:44 to play.

“I think we missed some layups again, some in the paint, but it happens,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “But I thought once again the boys fought to the end and we just couldn’t overcome it. So give Phoenix credit.”

The Suns will look to build on that in Monday's rematch against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Footprint Center. The Lakers rallied from a 22-point deficit to overwhelm the Suns 123-116 in Los Angeles on Friday.

Phoenix also lost a double-digit lead in the season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Suns led by as many as 14 points late in the first half, but trailed by 10 points in the fourth half before forcing overtime and winning 116-113.

They couldn't hold on to their 22-point lead against the Lakers, leaving Bradley Beal completely upset afterward.

“It’s super frustrating,” he said. “We had them back by 15, 20. They were all confused.” We had them exactly where we wanted them. They didn't really have an answer to that. We got really complacent.”

The Suns had a quick turnaround, but the coaches made sure to remember Anthony Davis and the Lakers living comfortably at the free throw line on Friday. The Lakers attempted 39 free throws for a total of 29, with Davis nearly keeping pace with the Suns as a team at the line.

Davis finished the game 13 of 17 while Phoenix shot 15 of 17 from the line.

Twenty-four hours later, it was the Suns who set up camp for an extended stay at the border.

They went 28 of 37 while the Mavs went 15 of 18.

“We can’t send them to the free throw line,” Kidd said. “You know, they shoot the ball extremely well from the free throw line, and tonight we just couldn't get out of their way by fouling.”

The Mavs committed 28 fouls, just a day after the Suns called for 26 fouls against the Lakers.

“We just have to play without fouls,” Mavs forward Klay Thompson said. “It starts with me. Four fouls, too many.”

Doncic made 11 of 12 from the line, which is typical for him. The Mavs superstar averaged 10.5 attempts two seasons ago and is averaging 10 attempts this season.

The same cannot be said for Booker.

He has never averaged above 7.1 in his last nine seasons, but Booker is at a career-high 7.7 this season after going 11-of-12 from the line against Doncic on Saturday.

“I’m trying to get the penetration to open up other opportunities for other people,” Booker said. “That was a problem for us last year, settling for a lot of midfield and not being able to create an advantage or create a rotation. That is also a focus.”

The Suns ranked sixth in free throw attempts last season with 23.4. This season, they are tied for sixth with the Toronto Raptors and Lakers and are averaging 29.3 attempts from the line.

Do you have any opinions on the current state of the suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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