Suns Clinch No. 7 Seed in West with Win Over Mavs

Devin Booker's 37 points and Dillon Brooks' late layup seal the victory for Phoenix.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 5:51am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting overlapping and fragmented basketball players in motion, with the bright colors of the Suns and Mavericks uniforms.The Suns' hard-fought victory over the Mavericks showcases the intensity and dynamism of the NBA playoffs race.Dallas Today

The Phoenix Suns defeated the Dallas Mavericks 112-107 on Wednesday to clinch the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Devin Booker led the Suns with 37 points and 9 assists, while Dillon Brooks scored 28 points and made a crucial late layup to seal the win. The Suns will now face either the Los Angeles Clippers or Portland Trail Blazers in the play-in round on Tuesday.

Why it matters

The Suns' victory secures their spot in the Western Conference playoffs, giving them a chance to make a postseason run after a disappointing regular season. The game also featured a tight battle between two young stars, Devin Booker and the Mavericks' Cooper Flagg, who is in the running for Rookie of the Year.

The details

The Suns jumped out to an 18-point lead early in the second half, but the Mavericks fought back and took a 95-93 lead in the fourth quarter. However, Booker's 3-pointer and Brooks' late layup sealed the victory for Phoenix. The Suns also lost starters Jalen Green and Jordan Goodwin to injuries in the first half.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 9, 2026.
  • The Suns will face either the Clippers or Trail Blazers in the play-in round on Tuesday.

The players

Devin Booker

The Suns' star guard, who scored 37 points and had 9 assists in the win.

Dillon Brooks

The Suns' forward, who scored 28 points and made a crucial late layup to seal the victory.

Cooper Flagg

The Mavericks' rookie forward, who had a career-high 23 points and is in the running for Rookie of the Year.

Jalen Green

The Suns' starting guard, who left the game with a right knee injury in the first quarter.

Jordan Goodwin

The Suns' starting guard, who left the game with a left ankle injury in the second quarter.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The Suns will face either the Los Angeles Clippers or Portland Trail Blazers in the play-in round on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.

The takeaway

The Suns' victory over the Mavericks secures their spot in the Western Conference playoffs, giving them a chance to make a postseason run after a disappointing regular season. The game also featured a tight battle between two young stars, Devin Booker and the Mavericks' Cooper Flagg, who is in the running for Rookie of the Year.