The heated exchange between Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic and Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker in the dying seconds of Sunday’s game at the American Airlines Center was a reminder of the developing rivalry between the two teams. After Doncic missed what would have been a game-tying layup, the two squared up and exchanged words. While both were smiling, a technical foul was called on each player.
The Mavericks ended up losing the game 130-126 and Doncic led the scoring for Dallas with 34 points and nine rebounds. Booker had 36 points and 10 assists and was the second-highest scorer, behind Kevin Durant with 37 points.
Booker downplayed the incident after the game, saying he was speaking to the referee before he got face to face with Doncic. “You guys say you don’t want everybody to be friendly-friendly,” Booker said, via AZCentral’s Duane Rankin. “There you go, we got some smoke … It’s just two competitors going at it,” he said. “Everybody speaks on how friendly the NBA is right now and don’t like that. I have no problem with Luka on or off the court, but when we’re competing, we’re competing.”
The incident shows just how competitive the rivalry between these two teams has become since the Mavericks’ upset win in the playoffs last year to reach the Western Conference finals. It is clear that both teams are in a tight battle for playoff positioning, and this could be a sign of more intense games to come.
Doncic doesn’t have an issue with the trash talk between him and Booker, and that could make for some exciting games in the near future. With the Western Conference standings tight as ever, it will be interesting to see if the two teams will meet again this season, and if they do, it is sure to be an intense game.
