Only one game was on tap in the NBA on Friday, and it was a good one. In addition, some drama is unfolding for the Phoenix Suns, and it isn’t related to the franchise’s on-the-court product.
Mavs Sputter vs. Jazz as Endgame Woes Continue
The Dallas Mavericks cannot seem to find ways to win close games this season.
Last year’s finalists suffered yet another close defeat on Friday, losing to the Utah Jazz, 115-113, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on a late-game dunk from John Collins.
After falling behind, 99-85, to start the fourth quarter, the Mavs looked on their way to sending the game to overtime down the stretch thanks to a Klay Thompson triple that tied the game at 113. But with over 28 ticks remaining, the Jazz had more than enough time to set up a play, and the ball found its way to veteran guard Jordan Clarkson.
The former Gilas standout surveyed the floor from the top of the key as time wound down and then dished out a pinpoint dime to Collins, who snuck behind a seemingly oblivious Luka Doncic to get free at the point. Dallas came up empty in its last possession.
Collins scored a team-high 28 points for the Jazz, who also got 20 points off the bench from Clarkson. Four other Utah players scored over 12 markers. Doncic’s 37 points paced the Mavs, who have now lost four straight games by three points or less.
Controversy Hounds the Suns
Elsewhere, the Phoenix Suns organization is in trouble once more after an ex-employee filed a case against the franchise alleging harassment, racial discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
According to ESPN, the Suns’ former program manager of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Andrea Trischan, sued the organization in a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Phoenix. Trischan, who worked for the Suns from September 2022 to July 2023, is reportedly seeking $60 million from her former employer, whom she says also committed financial misconduct, sexual misconduct, and racial discrimination.
Trischan had previously filed a complaint at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Arizona Attorney General’s office’s civil rights division. However, the latter recently dismissed her complaint because the “information obtained is not sufficient to establish violations,” according to the decision, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN.
