Suns rise in third quarter, pull away from Mavericks, take 3-2 series lead

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Devin Booker was getting good looks from the midrange again. Chris Paul was racking up dimes finding the open man.

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Deandre Ayton was getting the ball inside and pounding the smaller Mavericks. The Suns’ defense was making Luka Doncic uncomfortable and forcing

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Everything was working for Phoenix, and in the third quarter it all came together — Dallas shot 6-of-16, which turned into transition and early clock chances for the Suns.

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The Suns won the third quarter 33-14 and never looked back, turning the game into a 30-point rout at the end.

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Phoenix won Game 3 110-80, and the Suns are now up 3-2 in the series. Game 6 is Thursday night in Dallas.

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The Suns have played much better at home this series, but Dallas got off to a fast start with Doncic hitting his first three from beyond the arc,

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Even through that run, it seemed the Mavericks were making difficult shots while the Suns were getting the better looks.

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