Phoenix Suns beat Mavericks to go 8-0 in NBA seeding games, await play-in tournament fate

The Phoenix Suns finished their eight-game seeding schedule perfect after blasting Dallas, 128-102, Thursday but still don’t know if they’re going to advance to the play-in tournament.

With Memphis beating Milwaukee, 119-106, Phoenix (34-39) now needs Portland to lose to Brooklyn in a 6 p.m. game at ESPN Wide World of Sports to play the Grizzlies in the play-in.

The Bucks faced Memphis without reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who served a one-game suspension after headbutting Mo Wagner in Milwaukee’s win Tuesday over Washington.

With Phoenix (34-39) and Memphis (34-39) winning Thursday, San Antonio has been eliminated from play-in contention and will miss out on the playoffs after 22 consecutive postseason trips.

The Suns posted their longest winning streak since the 2009-10 season when they won 10 a row to finish as the only team to go unbeaten in the bubble.

That was the last time Phoenix made the playoffs.

If the Nets beat the Blazers, the Suns will at least get an opportunity to break that decade drought. They’d have to beat Memphis twice in the play-in to return to the postseason, but the Grizzlies aren’t the same team went 3-1 against them.

Memphis is without Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee), Tyus Jones (knee) and Justise Winslow (hip). The Grizzlies finished 2-6 in the bubble while the Suns went 8-0 with Devin Booker leading the way.

The first-time all-star scored 27 points with 23 coming in the first half when first-time All-Star Luka Doncic saw action for the Mavericks, who sat Kristaps Porziņģis (heel).

Doncic scored 18 points, all in the first half in 13 minutes.

Phoenix Suns’ Mikal Bridges (25) blocks Dallas Mavericks’ Tim Hardaway Jr. (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool).

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If the Blazers lose, the Suns will reach the play-in and have to beat Memphis twice to earn the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference.

One loss to the Grizzlies would end their season. Game 1 is Saturday at 11:30 a.m. on ABC and Game 2, if necessary, is Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN. Both games will be played at The Field House.

If the Blazers win, Phoenix’s season will be over.

What a run

The Suns pulled off something that only they could’ve believed and even then likely had some self-doubt about actually doing it.

Then they proceeded to win eight straight games in the NBA restart, something the Suns haven’t done in a decade. Without Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) or Aron Baynes (knee) seeing any action in the scrimmages or seeding games, Phoenix defeated six teams that are in the playoffs.

The Thunder and Sixers rested five key guys. Miami and Dallas, in the second game, sat important players, but that shouldn’t diminish what Phoenix accomplished going 8-0.

The first two wins over Dallas and Los Angeles, both by two points and decided on the game’s final play, set the tone for what followed.

Player of the game: Devin Booker

He didn’t score 35 points for a fourth straight game, but was on his way to doing so.

Booker had 23 of his game-high 27 at the half. He added seven rebounds, five assists and didn’t turn the ball over to cap a run of basketball that greatly elevated his NBA status.

His buzzer beater to stun the Clippers over two stud perimeter defenders in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard put the bubble on notice. He proceeded to average 30.5 points in Phoenix’s eight seeding games.

Next to Portland’s Damian Lillard, Booker has been the best player in the bubble.

Respect has been put on his name. 

What went well/who played well

Outside of getting the win, Phoenix frustrated Doncic early and didn’t allow him to get his teammates involved. Without Porzingis, Doncic needed other players to come up big and the Suns made it tough for him to facilitate as evidence of him not having an assist.

Individually, Phoenix had six guys reach double figures, but Dario Saric once again came through with a standout effort.

Scoring 16 points, Saric continued to thrive off the bench after losing his starting spot essentially to injury after injuring his ankle in scrimmage play against Boston.

What didn’t/who didn’t play well

The Suns didn’t do much wrong in this one. Taking a deep, deep dive at it, Phoenix gave up some open 3s early, but Dallas didn’t really capitalize on it.

Started a bit slow, but the Suns got it going and never let up.

Individually, everyone played pretty solid. Deandre Ayton could’ve been better as he didn’t finish seeding play with the force he started. He finished with 11 points and nine boards.

Who was missing

Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee rehab) and Aron Baynes (knee) once again didn’t play despite Baynes being cleared from the injury report.

Baynes arrived in the bubble just days before the seeding games started as he had a bout with COVID-19. Oubre has spent the entire time in the bubble, looked to be in great shape and his knee has healed, but didn’t play one second in the scrimmages or seeding games.

The Suns listed him as doubtful the last few games, but remember, Oubre reportedly wasn’t going to play before the team left for Orlando.

Who won Dan Majerle Hustle Award

Jevon Carter received the honor in his first season with the Suns.

“That’s huge,” Carter said. “It goes to show hard work pays off. I pride myself on working hard every day, trying to outwork everybody. Getting an award behind it, it means a lot.”

Known for his stout, aggressive defense and bulldog, or “treadmill” mentality, Carter came up even bigger on the offensive end in the bubble.

The second-year guard out of West Virginia knocked down 16-of-29 shots from 3 (55.1%) that included a 6-of-8 effort in Phoenix’s win over Miami.

Who said that

“Listen, Memphis Grizzles gone win two games and the Suns gone win eight games and not get in. That’s not fair.” – Suns legend and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley on the possibility of Phoenix not making the play-in tournament after going 8-0 in seeding games and Memphis advancing to it despite going 2-6. Memphis went into the bubble six games ahead of the Suns. 

“We ready. We’re ready. We ain’t too happy, we ain’t too sad or mediocre right in the middle. We’re ready for war. Simple. We had the opportunity, we took it and now we’re onto the next step. If not, back to the drawing board when we get back to Phoenix and working on my game.” – Suns center Deandre Ayton on Phoenix advancing to the play-in tournament if Brooklyn beats Portland later this evening. 

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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