When their defense arrived back from All-Star break about an hour after everybody else, the Mavericks started their stretch drive toward the playoffs with a bang Thursday night.
The Mavericks sent notice to the Phoenix Suns and the rest of the teams in the Western Conference that are ahead of them that the Mavs are not to be discounted when it comes to the big picture this season.
With Luka Donu010diu0107 and Kyrie Irving taking control, the Mavericks overwhelmed the Suns in the second half and rolled to a 123-113 victory at American Airlines Center in the first game after the weeklong break that typically signifies the beginning of the sprint to the regular-season finish line.