Luka Doncic Reveals What Mavs Need to Fix After 3rd Straight Loss

The Dallas Mavericks have allowed at least 119 points in each of their three consecutive losses.

The same problem that has plagued the Dallas Mavericks during their recent skid reared its ugly head again in a 132-109 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday at the American Airlines Center. 

Dallas (24-20) has struggled to defend during its three-game losing streak, allowing an average of 126 points per game. Two nights after Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 73 points, Dallas' defense was torched again, this time by Devin Booker, who scored 46 points.

"It was our defense," Luka Doncic said. "I think Book [Devin Booker] went off, he couldn't miss [and] he destroyed us. I think it was our defense.”

Luka Doncic (77) and Devin Booker (1) / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Doncic fell just short of a third straight 30-point triple-double in the loss, scoring 34 points with nine assists and eight rebounds. No other starter had more than eight points. Tim Hardaway scored 17 points off the bench, and Jaden Hardy added 11. 

The Mavs were without Kyrie Irving due to a sprained right thumb. 

Dallas led by as many as 16 points twice in the second quarter before Phoenix (26-18) ended the first half on a 25-10 run to cut the Mavs' lead to one at halftime. The Suns, who have won seven straight games, kept that momentum in the third quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 43-20. Of Booker's 46 points, 22 came in the third quarter. 

"I think we just played very physically the first 17 or 18 minutes," Doncic said. "Then, our physicality went down, and that’s when we struggled. We got to be physical all game.”

Dallas head coach Jason Kidd added: "We didn't execute anything defensively. Another lesson learned from Boston to this game is he's efficient. He didn't have to go get it in the first quarter. He was patient. He picked his spot, and he took advantage of it. So, for young players to learn from that – and we can learn from that – ‘Book’ [Devin Booker] was going. When he's going, he's one of the best at the mid-range and getting to the basket."

Bradley Beal also had a strong performance for Phoenix with 20 points, seven assists and seven rebounds. Grayson Allen scored 15, and Kevin Durant had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. 

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For the season, Dallas has allowed 117.8 points per game, which is 21st in the NBA. 

"We just got to be more physical – that’s it," Doncic said of the Mavs' defensive woes. "I think when we play physical 48 minutes it’s hard to beat us. We got to play physically without fouling.”

Dallas looks to snap its three-game skid on Friday when it faces the Atlanta Hawks (18-26) at the State Farm Arena at 7 p.m. ET.