PHOENIX —
It was a season where the Phoenix Suns had high hopes of returning to the NBA Finals after setting a new franchise record for wins.
What happened instead was a humiliating end to the year after a 123-90 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in a win-or-go-home Game 7 on Sunday.
Here's what happened
First quarter:
Luka Doncic quickly opened up the game for the Mavericks with an early run for Dallas. Doncic walked into the Footprint Center averaging nearly 40 points in elimination games and has been the most consistent player all series.
Dallas controlled the pace of the game early, while Phoenix struggled to score. Jae Crowder was the only source of scoring for the Suns for much of the quarter.
Phoenix had a 10-point deficit after shooting 6-of-23.
Second quarter:
Suns coach Monty Williams opened up the quarter with his secondary unit instead of his cold-shooting starters.
While the team's bench players knocked down some shots, Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie was hot from beyond the arc and kept Phoenix in a hole.
Meanwhile, Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton did not have a made field goal between the three of them.
To make matters worse, Ayton got into early foul trouble as the Suns offense collapsed as the deficit ballooned.
Dallas led 57-27 at the half as the Footprint Center erupted in boos.
Doncic matched the entire Suns offense on scoring through 24 minutes.
Third quarter:
More Mavericks players like Jalen Brunson started heating up as the Suns desperately searched for an answer, but it never came.
The lead for Dallas was 42 points at one point as the game got out of hand and frustration took over for the Suns.
Phoenix never led from tipoff.
Fourth quarter:
There was little Dallas had to do but wind the clock out as both teams cleared their benches.
What's next?
Dallas will face the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. The schedule has yet to be released.
The season for the Suns is over.
Sports
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Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made the State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers also play at the Footprint. Phoenix has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Cactus Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the Waste Management Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall; and Cactus League Spring Training.