DALLAS — Kevin Durant's tiebreaking jumper was like so many before — right on target in the closing seconds. Luka Doncic's potential tying floater moments later in front of the rim was unlike most of his — spinning around and out.
What happened next was familiar — a little bad blood from last season's playoff series spilling, with Doncic and Devin Booker nose-to-nose before getting double technical fouls.
Durant scored 37 points, including the go-ahead shot, to lift the Phoenix Suns to a 130-126 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday in a thrilling showcase of stars for both teams.
The first meeting between Durant and Dallas' Kyrie Irving since they were traded by Brooklyn before the deadline last month was even at 126 when Durant pulled up over Tim Hardaway Jr.