Devin Booker on His, Chris Paul’s Turnovers: ‘It Wasn’t Like Us, You Can Credit’ Mavs

Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks turned up the
defensive pressure to score a critical Game 3 victory over the
Phoenix Suns on Friday night.

Dallas, which trimmed the Suns’ lead to
2-1 in the second-round playoff series, forced 17 turnovers,
including 12 by the superstar backcourt tandem of Chris Paul and
Devin Booker. It was a rare sight for a Phoenix squad that ranked
fifth in turnover percentage this season.

“It wasn’t like us,” Booker
told reporters. “You can credit them. They came out and played
hard, played desperate. But that’s that. We got a series.”

Paul added: “They came out and did
what they’re supposed to do. We’ll be back on Sunday.”

The Mavs led by five at halftime, and
any chance of a Suns comeback faded in a third quarter
controlled by Dallas 31-23. Phoenix had six turnovers in the period,
including four by Booker.

Every member of the Mavericks’ starting
lineup recorded at least one steal in Friday’s contest, led by three
apiece from Reggie Bullock and Dorian Finney-Smith.

Mavs superstar Luka Doncic credited the
home crowd for an assist on the defensive end.

“Energy, man,” Doncic said. “The
crowd gets you going. The energy and the execution were better.
That’s what we’ve got to do every game.”

It was a much-needed turnaround at that
end of the floor for the Western Conference’s No. 4 seed, which
allowed the top-seeded Suns to score 250 points over the first two
games on the road.

Dallas must continue putting the clamps
down on Phoenix’s guards if it’s going to have a chance to pull the
upset in the series.

Game 4 is set for Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
ET on ESPN, and the Mavericks will once again have the home fans
trying to provide that defensive boost.