Suns erase 22-point deficit with massive run in 2nd half to beat Mavs

The Phoenix Suns stared at a 22-point deficit early in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday night.

From there, Phoenix went on a 17-3 scoring run and kept the pressure on Dallas, cutting their disadvantage to five by the end of the third period, 81-76.

The Suns continued to battle from there, erasing a 15-point fourth quarter deficit to win the game, 107-105. Cam Payne made the go-ahead layup with 3:10 left, while Damion Lee hit a massive 3 to give Phoenix a 104-100 lead.

With the game tied, Lee struck again with a fadeaway jumper with 9.7 seconds left, the game-winner.

The Damion Lee game. pic.twitter.com/1DaWDt57Pk

— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) October 20, 2022

The third quarter run started with a Cam Johnson 3-pointer with 9:18 left in the quarter. 2.5 minutes later, Johnson made another 3, this time in transition to cut the deficit to 11 points. Dallas called timeout, which failed to stop the bleeding.

For 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/wMMfFpTJzU

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 20, 2022

Out of the timeout, Dallas wing Reggie Bullock’s pass was intercepted, and Mikal Bridges laid the ball in through contact for the and-1.

Putback and 1 💪 pic.twitter.com/tbs3D4rmdM

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 20, 2022

The defensive intensity ramped up for Phoenix, and Dallas’ hot hand from the first quarter cooled dramatically.

The Mavs shot 50% from the floor in the first half and 30.7% in the third period.

Seven Suns scored in the third period.

Payne hit a jumper to cut the Dallas lead to one with 1:25 on the clock, but the Mavs created an inch of breathing room heading into the final frame.

Dallas built the lead back to 15 in the fourth quarter, but Phoenix stayed in it, getting within three points with 4:49 to go.

The Suns start the year 1-0 and get the Trail Blazers on Friday.

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