For a team that prides itself on the numerous strides they’ve made on the defensive end of the court this season, the Dallas Mavericks’ defense was non-existence for the first three quarters during Game 1 of Monday night’s Western Conference best-of-seven semifinals series against the Phoenix Suns.
And by the time the Mavs’ defense finally woke up in the fourth quarter, it was way too late.
The Suns shot 50.5 percent from the field, won the rebounding battle by 15, and managed to get out of Footprint Center with a 121-114 victory over the Mavs.