The Suns lead the 3-2 series in Game 6 in Dallas on Thursday night.
PHOENIX – Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams is the winner of this year’s NBA Coach of the Year award.
In the main playoff match between the Suns and the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night, Williams held a coaching master class on the way to the Suns ’110-80 victory to come out ahead 3-2.
In the first five games of the series, the hosts were not defeated. The Mouse beat the Suns in Games 3 and 4 in Dallas after the Suns defended the home field in Games 1 and 2.
Recall: The Suns were not only the only NBA team with 60 wins this year – they were the best home team in the league (32-9).
To win the series, Luka Doncic and the Mouse must win the game in Phoenix. The first 20 minutes they were at the height.
In the first quarter, Dallas led by eight points, but the lead quickly faded when Williams brought Bismak Biamba off the bench.
Instead of turning to reserve center Javal McGee, Williams decided to go with Biambo, who had some success defending Doncic at the end of Game 4.
Biamba played 21 minutes behind the bench – the longest playing time he has received in a playoff game since he was with the Toronto Raptors in 2016 – and finished with seven points, six rebounds and a plus / minus +20. His protection from Doncic gave Phoenix a boost, and the energy he gave at both ends of the court was palpable.
It was a brilliant move by Williams to play with Biambo, and it’s an example of why he’s one of the game’s head coaches. Mavs head coach Jason Kidd, who has also made some quality adjustments this postseason, will have to think of a counter-move.
Biome along with the rest of the Sanz bench put their stamp in the 5th game, beating the Mouse bench with a score of 38-23.
With 28 points from Devin Booker, Phoenix came out of the break and beat Dallas 33-14 in the third quarter.
The Mouse turned the ball 12 times in the third quarter – the most in a quarter of the playoffs since 2012.
“I think we relaxed,” Doncic said after the game. “We have to be a lot better than that.”
Doncic (28 points, 11 rebounds) and Jalen Branson (21 points) scored 62% of the Mavs ’total points, and that just won’t give him success compared to the best in the league.
The Mavs have dug too deep a pit and are now returning to Dallas, their season on the verge of retirement.
Game 6 – Thursday night (20:30) at the American Airlines Center.
For the Mavericks, it’s a win – or stay home.
