The Mavericks have tied up the series before heading back to Phoenix for Game 5.
Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne defends as Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic takes a shot in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Sunday, May 8, 2022, in Dallas. – Luka Doncic tumbled toward the baseline after getting bumped by Chris Paul just before the halftime buzzer, the apprentice showing he has watched one of the masters at drawing fouls.
“I saw he was going for the rebound and I was surprised,” Doncic said. “He said to me, ‘Did I push you that hard?’ I said, ‘No, not that hard. But it was a smart play.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I know.’” Devin Booker scored 35 points for the Suns, who dropped two straight on the road with a 2-0 lead just as they did in last year's NBA Finals. Milwaukee won the last four to take the title. Top-seeded Phoenix lost consecutive games for the first time in the playoffs.
Paul drove to try to score in the final seconds but left the shot short, then made the ill-fated decision to chase the rebound. The sixth also came against Brunson just a minute and a half after Paul had returned in the fourth. Paul finished with five points. Then the lead was back down to eight when Doncic drove twice and kicked out to the 3-point line both times. Reggie Bullock hit the first and Brunson the second for a 105-95 lead with 2:52 remaining. Eight of Doncic's 11 assists were on 3s.