DALLAS — This is why Phoenix made the blockbuster move to get Kevin Durant.
The Suns’ newest superstar hit a jumper with 12.4 seconds left and added two free throws to close out a 130-126 comeback win Sunday over Dallas before a sellout crowd of 20,311 American Airlines Center.
Durant scored 37 points in 40 minutes as the Suns (36-29) are 3-0 with him on the floor.
Luka Doncic had a chance to tie the game, but he missed a bunny at the rim with 6.2 seconds left. Durant grabbed the rebound, was fouled and hit the ensuing free throws.
Devin Booker scored 36 while Ish Wainright added 12 off the bench, hitting four 3s to match a career high for makes from deep.
Doncic paced the Mavericks (33-32) with 34 while Kyrie Irving racked up 30 with 21 coming in second half.
The Suns led by one, 96-95, after three as they closed the quarter on an 11-2 run.
Torrey Craig started the run with a corner 3 and Wainright followed up with back-to-back corner 3s on the opposite side.
Booker assisted on all three 3s and ended the run with a jumper to put Phoenix up one.
Phoenix trailed, 62-59, at half, as Dallas erased an eight-point deficit in the second quarter.
The Mavs ended the half on a 15-9 run. They led at the break despite Irving scoring just nine points after going for 42 in Thursday’s win over Philadelphia.
Dallas shot 48.7% from the field, 10-of-22 from 3 and went 14-of-15 from the line. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 18 points at half, going 5-of-6 from 3 off the bench.
The Suns shot a better percentage from the field at 54.3%, but only went 4-of-16 on 3s and attempted just seven free throws (made five).
Booker and Durant had 17 and 16 points, respectively, at the half on a combined 14-of-21 shooting.
Josh Okogie shot 0-for-5 on 3s in the half after going 5-of-10 on 3s in his 25-point performance Friday at Chicago. Chris Paul had just two points at the half on 1-of-3 shooting (0-for-2 on 3s).
Deandre Ayton played after suffering a right knee contusion in Friday’s win at Chicago when Okogie rolled into his knee on a foul call.
He didn’t practice Saturday at SMU as he was receiving treatment and was a game-time decision Sunday after being listed as questionable.
Ayton scored six points in the half in 17 minutes with all six coming in the first quarter on 3-of-3 shooting. He only took two shots in the second half, missing both.