You know that popular saying, “the more things change, the more they stay the same”? You can use that to describe last night’s thriller between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns.
The game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns on March 5th was arguably one of the most entertaining games of the 2022-23 NBA season. The headlines going into the game were surrounding Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Durant went to the Suns, Irving went to the Suns, and both were traded away from the Brooklyn Nets this season.
But what grabbed people’s attention at the end wasn’t the thing that changed. It was Luka Doncic and Devin Booker, the two things that stayed the same. It’s been well-documented that these players have continued to dislike one another. In the game’s final moments, Doncic missed a potential game-tying floater that would’ve put both teams at 128 each. In the wake of such a critical miss, Doncic and Booker got into a heated verbal exchange.
Booker reportedly taunted Doncic for his miss, to which the Mavs star responded emphatically, “Shut the f–k up!” and then got in his face. Both players received technical fouls shortly after. The Suns ultimately ended with a 130-126 win over the Mavericks. The bad blood was just as prevalent last season during the NBA Playoffs when the Mavs pulled off the upset and knocked out the Suns–who were ranked the top seed in the Western Conference then.
“Based on the words, I don’t think so,” said Doncic, who has 14 technical fouls this season, two shy of an automatic one-game suspension. “It’s fine. It’s just a competitive game.
“It’s all good. Just next time, don’t wait until there’s three seconds left to talk.”
But it’s all in the game’s spirit, on at least Doncic’s part. The star had plenty of respect to give to the Suns. Notably the tandem of Booker and Durant.
“I mean, they’re incredible,” he said. “Those two guys are one of the best [duos] in the league, Book and KD. But I love it. It’s competitive. I think today was a great game to watch.”
Someone should get these two in an MMA ring. I bet it’d make a ton of money.
Luka Doncic and Devin Booker going at it 👀pic.twitter.com/v0UKUZSHwg
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 5, 2023
Mavericks' Luka Doncic on trash talk from Suns' Devin Booker:
"Next time, just don't wait until there's three seconds left [in the game] to talk." pic.twitter.com/huZuxSWXTo
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) March 6, 2023
