Classic Suns-Mavs game ends with questionable call

With the game tied 113-113, the Suns' Royce O'Neale missed a floater. Jusuf Nurkic forced his way inside for the offensive rebound and missed the putback but Daniel Gafford was whistled for a foul with one second on the clock.

Nurkic was clearly hit by Gafford, but what the officials missed was the shove in the back by O'Neale, which got the big man free for the offensive board in the first place. Dallas challenged the call, but since you can't challenge a call that wasn't made, it was unsuccessful. The "Bosnian Beast" missed the first free throw but made the second for a 114-113 Phoenix.

Before the controversial finish, the game was a duel between former teammates and besties Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Once teammates on the Brooklyn Nets, the two went at it in the third quarter, with Durant scoring 11 points to Irving's 10. For the second half, Durant scored 17 of his 26 points, while Irving put up 19 of his 29.

But even with these two All-Stars battling, not to mention Luka Doncic (30 points) and Devin Booker (12 assists), the end of the game came down to role players. After Durant hit a three to cut the Dallas lead to 107-106, the last three minutes were a big man battle.

Gafford grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled by Nurkic for two free throws. After an O'Neale three-pointer tied the game, Nurkic scored the final five points of the game for Phoenix, while Gafford had the final six for Dallas.

That's part of why the Suns have won seven straight games. Last season, they had a top-heavy roster, built around Durant, Booker and Bradley Beal. Friday night, the Suns had six players in double figures, winning the game with perhaps their No. 5 offensive option.

The final call may have been a surprise, but the Suns gutting out a close game was not. They have eight wins, and seven have come by six points or less. The referees may have helped, but Phoenix's toughness and team effort got it to the point where a foul call, however dubious, could win it for it.