The Mavs knew Luka Doncic couldn't do miracles on his own.

It was the teaching of the first two meetings finished with 45 and 35 points for the Slovenian, but with two defeats at the end.

It is therefore at the cost of a great collective effort that they were able to chain a second victory, to relaunch this series.

As in match N.3, the Slovenian prodigy scored 26 points (7 rebounds, 4 steals).

But with a weak 9/25 to shoot including a starving 1/10 at long distance.

He nevertheless trusted his teammates more (11 assists), who were worthy of it, like Finney-Smith, by planting eight award-winning baskets (out of 12) which made 24 points.

Dorian Finney-Smith (left) faces Devin Booker on May 8, 2022 in Dallas during Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns Ron Jenkins GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/Archives

Dallas suffocated Phoenix in the first quarter, concluded 37-25, with eight award-winning banderillas already.

There will be twenty in total (out of 44 attempted).

Booker too alone

The success was thus less crazy in the second act and Phoenix gradually rose to the score after being led by 17 units, in the wake of Devin Booker, excellent (37 pts, 7 assists), but lonely.

But then, where was Chris Paul?

To absent subscribers and it is rare enough to report it (5 pts, 7 assists).

Overwhelmed by faults, he was excluded in the sixth, harvested nine minutes from time.

Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns on May 8, 2022 during Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals won by the Dallas Mavericks Ron Jenkins GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/Archives

No money-time therefore for those who are past masters in the management of these crucial end of matches.

Without him, the Suns have not found the way to force their destiny.

On the contrary, it was Dallas, revived at the end of the third quarter by a welcome three-point shot from Frank Ntilikina (3 pts, 2 rebounds, 1 interception), who finished strong, Jalen Brunson (18 pts) taking charge of the last thrusts.

Relaunched series, match N.5 already promises to be crucial in Phoenix on Tuesday, where in front of its public, the best team of the regular season, finalist last year, will have to find its collective drive, to avoid a disappointment against Very combative Mavs.

© 2022 AFP