Game Preview: Suns aim to make it 7 straight against Mavs

On November 9, 2024By Littum

WHO: Phoenix Suns (7-1) vs. Dallas Mavericks (5-3)

When: 5:30 PM Arizona time

Where: American Airlines Center — Dallas, Texas

Clock: ESPN, Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports

Listen: KMVP 98.7

The Phoenix Suns are aiming for their 7th straight win. What a time to be alive.

They have not made it easy for themselves with several come-from-behind wins and heroic efforts from their stars up front to close out games. Their 6-0 record in “clutch” time this season shows they are everything last year’s Suns weren’t in those moments. The early battle tests should only benefit them in the long run as they continue to build chemistry.

Kevin Durant said, “We’ve been in a lot of close games. I’m sure Suns fans are on edge every game, but I think it’s good for our team that we can these games in 4 .quarter and get an understanding of what it is like in times of crisis.”

They face a strong Dallas team in a tough environment at the American Airlines Center. The Mavs won their last game against Chicago, led by a 27-point, 13-assist outing from their superstar Luka Doncic.

Phoenix defeated the same Mavericks team earlier this season at the Footprint Center, 114-102. Durant had 31 in the win. Doncic had 40 points despite the loss, and his backcourt mates Kyrie Irving (22) and Klay Thompson (19) combined for 41 points.

Likely starters

Damage report

Sun

Bradley Beal – PROBABLE (right elbow soreness)
Ryan Dunn – DOUBTFUL (ankle)

Mavs

Dereck Lively II — OUT (Shoulder)
Maxi Kleber — OUT (Hamstring)
PJ Washington — OUT (knee)
Dante Exum — OUT (Wrist)

Uniform Matchup

What to look for

The Big 3 Battle

Dallas has their own “Big 3” with Kyrie, Klay and Luka. In their last meeting against the Suns, that trio combined for 81 points and drained 12 threes. The rest of the Mavericks combined for just 21 points on 9-of-30 shooting (30%). For those tracking at home, *checking notes* is not good! Well, for the Suns it is. Let’s hope it happens again.

Phoenix, meanwhile, was down Bradley Beal and had six players score 8 or more points, including 31 from Kevin Durant. Ryan Dunn gave them some excellent minutes that night, coming in with 13 points starting in place of Beal.

With Beal listed as probable, they will need him to step up, especially on the defensive end, where he has made big strides this season. I’m also here for the Bog vs Klay match. They are always funny.

“The Others”

Dallas will be down a few key pieces in Dante Exum, Dereck Lively II, Maxi Kleber and PJ Washington. The Suns will be without rookie Ryan Dunn, a blow to a team struggling to upset Luka Doncic.

Phoenix should stick to the same game plan of inviting role players to beat them. Dallas had 22 assists to Phoenix’s 26 and was caught in iso-ball multiple times, stalling momentum.

Phoenix’s role players will have to step up on the road, plain and simple. I believe the stars will be stars on each side, but the game will be decided by which team’s trio gets the most help, especially from the three-point line and the defensive side of the ball. Who’s going to make some plays?

Nurkic vs. Gafford

Jusuf Nurkic had his now second-best game of the young season (behind his last outing) against the Mavs, with 18 points, 14 rebounds and a block in 30 minutes on 7-of-12 shooting. He will look to build a strong game and increased confidence going forward against a team he played well against already this season.

Gafford saw just 18 minutes and Lively got 21 minutes as they looked for answers to slow Nurkic and the Suns down the interior. With Lively out tonight, this will be a matchup to watch. Dallas doesn’t have a ton of bigs to throw down low, especially with Kleber, Washington and Lively all out.

Phoenix didn’t necessarily play a great game in their last meeting, but they were solid across all four quarters and did enough to build their lead quarter by quarter heading into the fourth. Let’s hope they do it again.

Forecast

The good times keep rolling and the Suns take down Dallas in a hard fought slugfest. I predict this affair will be a high-scoring affair.

Phoenix 123, Dallas 120