Nurkic, 2 Dallas players were eliminated from the fight at No. 3

The Phoenix Suns (15-14) host the Dallas Mavericks (19-11) on Friday, airing on Arizona’s Family (Chapter 3 TV) at 7 p.m

This is the first back-to-back games for both teams and the second of their three-game regular season series.

Devin Booker (left groin) will miss his fourth straight game for the Suns. Dallas star Luka Doncic (calf strain) will be out for at least a month. The Suns are led by Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal without Booker, and the Mavericks’ other top players are Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson.

Phoenix is coming off a 110-100 home win over Denver on Christmas that saw the team eliminated for three games. Dallas lost 105-99 in Minnesota that holiday. Phoenix and Dallas are eighth and fourth in the Western Conference standings.

Find live updates on scores, highlights and statistics during the Suns-Mavericks game on azcentral.

Everything about the sun: Latest Phoenix Suns news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Suns’ Nurkic, 2 Mavericks players were eliminated at No. 3

Kevin Durant scored 15 of his 28 points in the third quarter and Phoenix still trails 72-64.

But an altercation in the quarter was by far the most intense moment of the game.

With the Suns trailing 60-44 with 9:02 to play, Nurkic was called for an offensive foul for hooking Daniel Gafford on a post move, causing both to fall.

As Nurkic walked back toward the Mavericks’ end of the floor, he stopped and said something as he walked toward Kyrie Irving’s group. Nurkic and Naji Marshall then exchanged more words and Nurkic punched Marshall, igniting the commotion. Marshall hit Nurkic in the neck and then PJ Washington shoved Nurkic.

After the altercation was reviewed by the referees, all three players were assessed two flagrant fouls, resulting in automatic ejections.

The Suns then went on a brief 6-0 run to cut the lead to 10 at 6:26, but the Mavericks extended the lead back to 18 on Kyrie Irving’s fifth attempt from long range at 3:45. Durant led the Suns with a 12-2 run to end the third, cutting the lead to eight.

Mavericks extend lead, Suns struggle in 2nd quarter

Phoenix is down by its largest, 55-39 at halftime. The Suns committed five of their seven turnovers in the second quarter.

Durant had a team-high 13 points for the Suns, but he cooled off from his 4-of-4 shooting in the opening period and managed just 1 of 5 at the break. Beal had nine points (4 of 11).

The Mavericks’ Irving had a game-high 15 points and their big man Daniel Gafford had 10.

The Suns’ shooting percentage decreased to 3 of 12 overall in the second quarter after going 10 of 25 in the first quarter.

Durant, Suns respond to Irving, Mavericks surge in 1st quarter

Phoenix trails Dallas 28-25 at the start of the second quarter.

Former Brooklyn teammates Durant and Irving both had the hottest cards in the opening period. Durant had nine points on a perfect 4-for-4 game and Irving scored a game-high 12 points on 4-of-6, all from long range.

The Suns got off to a slow start as the Mavericks took a 14-4 lead thanks to Irving’s first three tries. After calling a timeout at 8:45 a.m. to stop the early bleeding, the Suns answered the Mavericks’ early surge with their own 8-0 run, led by Beal (five points) and Durant, along with two Steals from Ryan Dunn and Jusuf Nurkisch.

Irving hit his fourth three-pointer to give the Mavericks a 17-12 lead, then Tyus Jones of the Suns and Maxi Kleber of the Mavericks traded 3s.

Josh Okogie contributed two made 3s for the Suns off the bench.

Starting lineups

The Suns start Tyus Jones and Bradley Beal in the backcourt, Ryan Dunn in the three, Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkic in the middle.

The Mavericks will start with Irving as the point leader, Thompson at two guards, forwards Naji Marshall and PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford at center.

Allen of the Suns, Bol out

Phoenix sharpshooter Grayson Allen (concussion) and 7-footer Bol Bol (left knee) will miss their fourth straight game. Collin Gillespie and TyTy Washington are both headed to the G League.

Dallas big Dereck Lively II (hip) and Dante Exum (wrist) are out.

Nurkic, 2 Dallas players were eliminated from the fight at No. 3

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

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