MAVERICKS (0-0) AT PHOENIX SUNS (0-0)
Time: 9 p.m.
Place: Footprint Center, Phoenix
TV: TNT
Radio: The Eagle, 97.1 FM; Univision 99.1 FM (Spanish)
About the Mavericks: The excitement level is very high for the Mavs, who have reached the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2011 when they went on to capture the NBA title. . .The Mavs got here by finishing the regular season with a 52-30 record, then defeating the Utah Jazz in six games in the first round of the playoffs and earning a date with the top-seeded Phoenix Suns. . .“It’s an opportunity for the season to continue,” coach Jason Kidd said about playing the No. 1-seeded Suns. “A lot of guys haven’t been in that situation, but it’s basketball. The series with the Jazz is over. Now we have to pay attention to the Suns and understand what we have to do if we have any chance. But it’s about the concept of being able to execute those concepts on both ends – offense and defense.”. .The Mavs were 0-3 against the Suns this season. However, Luka Doncic (left knee and left ankle sprains) and Maxi Kleber (left oblique strain) didn’t play in the two November games in Phoenix, and Doncic hurt his neck late in the third quarter of the one game in Dallas when the Mavs were up by eight points. Plus, the Suns have yet to see the Mavs with Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans. So, is there anything of significance that can be taken from the three matchups this season? “You can take a lot, just looking at who was playing, but also what the tendencies are,” Kidd said. “Just understanding both teams are playing well, so this should be a good series. With the change in our team — having a couple of more playmakers out on the floor for us — hopefully that’ll help us.”. .Kidd played for the Suns from 1996-2001 and earned three of his 10 All-Star berths while playing for Phoenix. 
“That was a long time ago,” Kidd said. “It’s great (to play the Suns), because you’re going against the best. So this is a great challenge for us to see where we are.”. .Kidd hopes playing in the tough environment in Utah will help the Mavs in this series against the Suns. “Their fans get into the game and they’re into the game for the whole 48 minutes,” Kidd said. ”So us playing in Utah hopefully gives us the sense of what a hostile environment is. It will be noisy. The fans in Phoenix definitely support their team, so we’ll be prepared for that, just like in Utah we were prepared for the noise.”. .The Mavs and Suns have previously met twice in the playoffs. The Suns beat the Mavs in six games in the 2005 Western Conference semifinals, and the Mavs returned the favor and beat the Suns in six games in the 2006 Western Conference Finals.
About the Suns: To reach the Western Conference semifinals, the Suns produced the NBA’s best regular season record with a franchise worksheet of 64-18, then went out and defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in six games in the opening round of the playoffs. . .The Suns are one of the heavy favorites to win this year’s NBA title. Phoenix won the first two games in the NBA Finals last year against the Milwaukee Bucks, but dropped the last four and the series. . .As far as the Suns are concerned, point guard Chris Paul is the head of the snake. The 17-year veteran led the NBA in assists this season (10.8), was second in steals (1.9) and has this incredible knack for just completely taking over games in the fourth quarter. In the 115-109 series-clinching Game 6 victory over the Pelicans this past Thursday, Paul was a perfect 14-of-14 from the field and tallied 33 points. That’s the first time in NBA playoff history that a player made that many field goals in a game without a
miss. But the Suns are very loaded with so many gifted players — hence their won-loss record. “We’ve got to make it tough on not just CP, but everyone,” coach Jason Kidd said. “(Center Deandre) Ayton doesn’t get a lot of recognition for what he does. He’s a big part of their success. Everybody talks about CP and (Devin) Booker, but they’ve got guys in uniform over there that can hurt you. We’ve got to pay attention to everybody.”. .Booker returned Thursday from a three-game absence with a hamstring injury and dropped in 13 points in 32 minutes in the series-clinching win over the Pelicans. . .The Suns have won their last nine games against the Mavs. . .In going 3-0 against the Mavs this season, the Suns trailed all three games going into the fourth quarter. But Phoenix outscored the Mavs, 37-25, in the fourth quarter and won, 105-98, on Nov. 17. The Suns also outscored the Mavs, 33-20, in the fourth quarter and won, 112-104, on Nov. 19. In addition, the Suns outscored the Mavs, 35-19, in the fourth quarter of the Jan. 20 game in Dallas and won, 109-101. . .Mavs guard Jalen Brunson and Suns forward Mikal Bridges were college teammates and helped Villanova win the 2016 and ‘18 NCAA titles.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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