The Dallas Mavericks were outclassed by the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night, losing 121-114. This was the 10th game in a row that Phoenix has beaten the Mavs, which isn't exactly a good sign for the series. But, there are still some reasons for optimism moving forward.

3 reasons Mavs must not panic after Game 1 loss to Suns

Luka Doncic played out of his mind

Luka Doncic was absolutely brilliant in the series opener, erupting for a game-high 45 points while also grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out eight assists. The Suns did their absolute best to defend the Mavs star, but he continued to find his own shot, truly scoring at all three levels. He is obviously crucial to their success in this series and even though Game 1 ended in a defeat, it's always promising to see Luka put together such an electrifying performance. From the get-go, the Suns were hounding him. Doncic wasn't fazed though, scoring 26 points by halftime. As long as he keeps dominating, the Mavs will have a fighting chance.

Jalen Brunson will get going

Remember when Luka was injured for part of the first round and Jalen Brunson destroyed the Utah Jazz? Yeah, we all do. The guard was averaging over 28 points per game heading into Game 1 against Phoenix, but Monday was a struggle for him. Brunson posted just 13 points and went 6 for 16 from the field, missing numerous mid-range looks that he usually drains with ease. The ex-Villanova star has proven in these playoffs that he is capable of rising to the occasion and going off. Sure, Brunson played against a Jazz team who are by no means the Suns in any shape or form, but he is a gamer. Brunson's footwork and handle make him difficult to guard and considering the confidence he's played with throughout the postseason, it's only a matter of time until he gets going and serves as the perfect right-hand man to Doncic. The series opener was just a cold night.

The hot 3-point shooting continued

The X-factor for the Mavs in the first round was certainly their three-point shooting. Jason Kidd's squad made it rain against Utah, exposing their shaky perimeter defense. The Suns do a solid job of defending the perimeter, but Dallas still managed to make a lot of triples in Game 1. They went 16 for 39 (41%), with Maxi Kleber shooting 5 for 8 from deep on his own. To be honest, there could be even more good looks for the Mavs if the ball movement improves as well. Dallas had just 16 assists in the contest due to Phoenix's ability to lock down.

The Mavs rely on the triple and it's a big reason they weren't blown out on Monday night. Yes, they got overmatched on the boards by a noticeable margin, but if Dallas can continue to shoot the three-ball at an efficient clip, it will help immensely. There will come a time when the squad goes cold from long range, but that's when the Mavs will need to rely on Doncic and Brunson, even more, to thrive in the paint.