What happened: Paige Bueckers closed the half with a stepback 3 to reach a game-high 20 points. She went 8-of-12 from the field and made four 3-pointers before the break, with Dallas ahead of Phoenix at halftime.

Why it matters: The surge gave Dallas a clear offensive edge in a late-season meeting with Phoenix during the postseason push. It also extended the run of big scoring nights for Bueckers, who has already featured repeatedly in Wire Report game coverage this summer.

What to watch: The next swing is whether Dallas can turn the halftime lead into a win. Bueckers' scoring pace is the other number to watch in the second half.