Jason Kidd says Mavericks need players besides Luka Doncic to step up with Dallas in 2-0 hole against Phoenix Suns

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Luka Doncic needs a lot more help against the top-seeded Phoenix Suns, according to Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd.

Dallas wasted another brilliant offensive performance by Doncic in Wednesday's Game 2, when he scored 35 points on 13-of-22 shooting in a 129-109 loss as the Suns took a 2-0 series lead. The Suns relentlessly targeted Doncic defensively while scoring 71 points in the second half.

He had a great game, but no one else did. At this time of the year, we cannot win with just him out there scoring 30 a night. We have to get other guys going because we are playing the best team in the league.

In the two losses at the Footprint Center, the Mavs' guards have combined for 41 points on 32.6% shooting, and Kidd mentioned that they need more production from them. In the first-round victory over the Utah Jazz, Brunson averaged 27.8 points in the six-game series.

Chris Paul and Devin Booker were the main players in the game. In the second half, Booker scored 21 of his 30 points and Paul scored 20 of his 28.

Booker said of Doncic that he was going to have to guard a bit.

In the second half, Doncic was the screener defender on 19 on-ball screens, which is the third most in his career. The Suns averaged 1.81 points per chance on those possessions. Over the past three seasons, that is the highest efficiency allowed by a single defender involved in at least 15 direct picks.

Doncic said he had to play better defense.

The Suns blew the game open in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, stretching their lead from six to 15 as Paul exploded for 14 points and two assists. Paul exploited Doncic on switches for layups and a pull-up jumper, as well as finding Johnson for a 3-pointer, during the deciding 21-7 run.

Kidd said that the Suns were bringing Doncic up into everything. Coming into the series, we knew that. In the last series, we knew that. We did a better job of protecting each other. We have to get back to protecting one another in Game 3.

Booker, Paul and the Suns were efficient in their offensive performance. The Phoenix Suns set a franchise playoff record by shooting 64.5% from the floor. The Suns had a good shooting percentage. That is second all time in a playoff game, trailing only the LA Clippers' 77.8% win over the Mavericks in the 2020 first round.

Paul had eight assists. He went 11-of-16 from the floor in the second half. Booker went 11-of-19 from the floor and 5-of-8 from the 3-point range.

Kidd said that they had no answers after one took the third quarter and the other took the fourth quarter. They got the shots they wanted. He made layups and jump shots when he got to his spots. The book was made into 3s. They are really good. They are aware of the situation. They have seen it all. We have to be better.

The Mavs, who are playing in the second round for the first time since the championship run, will search for solutions as they fly home on Thursday.

A lot of players are in this situation for the first time. They have to win four, so it is not over yet.