The Phoenix Suns secured a crucial 125-116 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night, keeping their play-in hopes alive while closing the gap on a direct competitor. While the Mavericks remain in NBA play-in position, the Suns are still on the outside looking in—but this win was a major step toward catching them. Devin Booker, who led the way for Phoenix, addressed the noticeable absence of Luka Doncic in the Mavericks’ lineup.
When asked Devin about Doncic’s departure following his blockbuster trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, Booker acknowledged the impact it has had on Dallas and how he feels the vibes.
“You can feel it when we land. The vibes are low right now, but hopefully, they can look back and once everybody gets healthy—on top of next season—still root on their team and root on their city,” Booker said.
Since trading Doncic, the Mavericks have struggled, posting a 6-10 record. To make matters worse, they’ve been dealing with a brutal injury crisis, losing key players like Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and—most critically—Kyrie Irving for extended periods. Irving’s torn ACL has ruled him out for the rest of the season and much of the next.
Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks
Suns take advantage of depleted Mavericks roster
Booker led Phoenix with 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Kevin Durant added 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists in the win. The Mavericks, despite being severely shorthanded, had a strong performance from Naji Marshall, who posted a near triple-double with 34 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists. Klay Thompson contributed 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, but Dallas was limited in rotation, at one point having just eight available players.
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Luka Doncic vs. Devin Booker: a heated Western Conference rivalry
The rivalry between Luka Doncic and Devin Booker has become one of the NBA’s most intense, fueled by playoff clashes, on-court trash talk, and a battle between two superstar egos. Their feud escalated during the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals, when Doncic’s Mavericks stunned Booker’s Suns with a dominant Game 7 victory, winning by 33 points in Phoenix. Doncic’s now-iconic smirk at Booker in Game 5—after Booker exaggerated contact on a foul—only added to the tension.
Since then, every Suns-Mavericks matchup has been must-watch basketball, with both players exchanging words, physicality, and elite performances. Booker, known for his scoring prowess and fiery demeanor, has taken jabs at Doncic, while Luka—never one to back down—has responded with clutch shot-making and elite playmaking. One of their most heated moments came when Doncic confronted Booker face-to-face after a game-sealing bucket, telling him, “Don’t wait until you’re up to start talking.”
Beyond the personal rivalry, their teams have remained in a tight battle for Western Conference positioning. With Phoenix building around Booker and Dallas reloading without Doncic, this rivalry isn’t going away anytime soon. As long as both superstars lead their respective NBA franchises (now Doncic have to lead Lakers) , fans can expect plenty more fireworks whenever the Suns and Lakers square off.
