Game Preview: Phoenix Suns face shorthanded Mavericks in must-win matchup

Suns trail Mavs by 2.5 games for final Play In spot.

Who: Phoenix Suns (29-34) @ Dallas Mavericks (32-32)

When: 12:30 pm Arizona Time

Where: American Airlines Center — Dallas, TX

Watch: ABC/ESPN+

Listen: KMVP 98.7

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The Phoenix Suns travel to Dallas to take on the injury-depleted Mavericks in a nationally televised Sunday matinée affair. Both teams have struggled recently, the Mavs are on a four-game losing streak and the Suns are losers of five of their last seven games.

Currently the Suns sit 11^th in the conference standings, trailing the Mavs by 2.5 games for the final Play In spot. The Suns are coming off a 149-141 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets where Nikola Jokic put together an all-time league best ever performance with a 30+ point, 20+ rebound, and 20+ assist stat line. Kevin Durant sent the game into overtime in typical clutch fashion, but Jokic was more than we could handle.

This has been a season of change for the Mavs. That is the understatement of the year! They traded megastar Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis. AD promptly got hurt after the trade and is expected to miss the rest of the season. The Mavericks have had a slew of injuries, the latest, Kyrie Irving suffering a season-ending knee injury. In addition to Davis and Kyrie, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively, and PJ Washington are all out.

The Suns need to take advantage of this opportunity against this team devastated with injuries. A win here would cut the Mavs lead to 1.5 games.

Probable Starters

Suns

• Devin Booker
• Bradley Beal
• Kevin Durant
• Bol Bol
• Nick Richards

Mavericks

• Dante Exum
• Max Christie
• Klay Thompson
• Naji Marshall
• Kessler Edward

Injury Report

Suns

• Cody Martin — OUT (Sports Hernia)

Mavericks

• Oliver-Maxence Prosper — OUT (right wrist)
• Anthony Davis — OUT (adductor strain)
• Kyrie Irving — OUT (ACL tear)
• Daniel Gafford — OUT (knee)
• Jaden Hardy — OUT (ankle)
• Dereck Lively — OUT (stress fracture)
• PJ Washington — OUT (ankle)
• Kai Jones — OUT (quad strain)
• Dante Exum —QUESTIONABLE (Foot contusion)
• Caleb Martin — QUESTIONABLE (right hip strain)

Uniform Matchup

What to Watch For

The Mavs are starting 6’7’ Kessler Edwards at center and their tallest starter is Naji Marshall at 6’8”, the Suns need to take advantage of their size. I would like to see Nick Richards have a big rebounding and scoring game. We need a good game from Bol Bol as well. His production and minutes are down the last three games. However, Dallas has given up over 128 ppg in this four-game losing streak and Bol can go on a scoring binge tonight. Looking for 20+ points and 10+ rebounds.

The Suns have been a turnstile on defense but so have the Mavericks. The Suns have the better offensive talent in this matchup. Can we take advantage of our size and length?

The last two games, the Suns have only played well in short spurts, rallying to beat the Clippers and forcing overtime against the Nuggets. We need a consistent effort on both sides of the court throughout the game. The question is, can the Suns do that?

Ryan Dunn, where art thou?? This has the markings of a high scoring affair, but I want to see Ryan get minutes. I know wishful thinking.

Prediction

This game comes down to who has the most heart. Dallas is going to come out and make this a physical game. You know Jason Kidd is telling his team to try and make us uncomfortable and that we don’t respond well to being played with physicality. This game scares me, but I think we just have more firepower and come out victorious.

Phoenix 132, Dallas 122

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