PHOENIX SUNS

Jamal Crawford drops 51 points, Suns fall to Mavericks in season finale

Apr 9, 2019, 9:05 PM

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)...

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

DALLAS (AP) — Jamal Crawford’s record-setting night wasn’t enough as the Phoenix Suns couldn’t knock off the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night.

Dirk Nowitzki scored a season-high 30 points and the Mavericks celebrated the final home game of the 40-year-old’s record 21st season with the same franchise in a 120-109 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.

The 14-time All-Star had the first eight Dallas shots and scored his team’s first 10 points in the first three minutes and passed his previous season high of 21 on a 3-pointer early in the third quarter.

Dallas’ season finale is Wednesday night in San Antonio. He broke Kobe Bryant’s record of 20 seasons with the Lakers. Bryant retired three years ago.

Jamal Crawford scored 51 points, one off his career high, in the season finale for the Suns (19-63). Phoenix had by far the worst record in the Western Conference in its fourth straight season with at least 58 losses.

Phoenix trailed by 30 at halftime (68-38) but got within four in the fourth quarter before back-to-back 3-pointers from Luka Doncic and Justin Jackson pushed the lead back to 10.

Nowitzki kept shooting on his busiest night of the season, finishing with highs of 31 shots (making 11) and 33 minutes. He was 5 of 14 from 3-point range with eight rebounds.

The highest-scoring foreign-born player in NBA history also tied his season high in assists with three, capped by passing out of a jump shot with the crowd anticipating another bucket and getting Jackson an easy layup.

A sellout crowd followed owner Mark Cuban’s order of filling the arena early, and cheered from the first possible moment for the player who guided the Mavericks to their only championship eight years ago.

Fans stood during warmups, recording him in the layup line on their phones. The 7-foot German obliged with a dunk. Then he had another dunk in the game — his second of the season — in the second half.

The wide smile as he ran down the floor was quite a contrast to the break between the first and second quarters. Nowitzki fought back tears near midcourt with the game about to restart after a tribute video detailing one of his holiday visits to a children’s hospital.

Doncic, the rookie sensation and the heir apparent to Nowitzki, had his eighth triple-double with 21 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. The 20-year-old is one triple-double shy of Jason Kidd’s franchise record from 1995-96.

TIP-INS

Suns: Crawford was 13 of 16 in the second half and 18 of 30 for the game, including 7 of 13 from 3-point range. … Dragan Bender had 12 points and 11 rebounds. … Josh Jackson scored 17.

Mavericks: Devin Harris, who has played more than half his 14 seasons with Nowitzki, scored 14 points. … Dorian Finney-Smith scored 15.

UP NEXT

Suns: Await the NBA draft lottery.

Mavericks: At San Antonio on Wednesday night.

Phoenix Suns

Jusuf Nurkic...

Damon Allred

Jusuf Nurkic questionable for Suns’ matchup with Thunder; Bradley Beal no longer listed

The Phoenix Suns are listing center Jusuf Nurkic questionable for a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.

12 hours ago

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during th...

Kellan Olson

Suns respond to season’s low point with thorough win over Nuggets

The guessing game of which Suns team shows up on which night persists. The best current version did on Wednesday in a win over the Nuggets.

1 day ago

Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half against the Boston Celtics at T...

David Veenstra

Bradley Beal in, Jusuf Nurkic out for Suns’ matchup with Nuggets

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is active for Wednesday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets while center Jusuf Nurkic is out.

1 day ago

Tyler Kolek, Marquette...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should watch in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

The Suns' first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft sits at No. 19 overall, and they could select a star from the NCAA Tournament.

2 days ago

Phoenix Suns take on San Antonio Spurs...

Arizona Sports

O’Neale: Phoenix Suns took Spurs ‘too lightly’ in glaring loss

The Phoenix Suns' lack of effort was on display Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, leading to an honest film session.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Royce O’Neale: Suns took Spurs “a little too lightly”

Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale joined Burns & Gambo to talk about the team's disappointing loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and to look ahead at the team's remaining schedule, as they continue to make a push toward the NBA playoffs.

2 days ago

Jamal Crawford drops 51 points, Suns fall to Mavericks in season finale