Preview: Slowing Durant is the goal for Mavs against Suns

 When they host Phoenix on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center, the Dallas Mavericks are faced with the daunting task of trying to contain Suns all-world forward Kevin Durant.

Durant is seventh in the NBA in scoring at 27.8 points per game, and he’s also shooting a robust 55.1 percent from the field and a very solid 42 percent clip from behind the three-point stripe. In other words, he’s flat-out balling.

“He’s one of the best players in the world,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “Coming off a gold medal and looking at what he’s doing for the Suns coming down the stretch, that’s what he does. So, he’s playing at a high level.”

So, how do the Mavs slow down a guy of Durant’s super talents.

“You just try to make it tough, and you tip your hat if he makes the shot,” Kidd said. “But if you give him (free throws), that just makes your night a longer night for you. So, we just got to contest and make it tough on him.”

When the Suns defeated the Mavs, 114-102, in Phoenix on Oct. 26, Durant finished with a team-high 31 points and nine rebounds. He also was 10-of-21 from the field, 4-of-8 from downtown and 7-of-9 from the free throw line.

“He’s one of the greatest to ever do it,” forward Naji Marshall said. “He’s still at a high level to this day.”

Now in his 18^th season, the 36-year Durant has been named to the All-Star team 14 times. Marshall believes it takes a “team effort” to derail the University of Texas-ex.

Marshall said: “Every kid who makes it to the NBA dreams to be able to play that long and be that productive.”

The Mavs just don’t want Durant to be that productive on Friday.

Here are some other nuggets surrounding Friday’s game between the Mavs and Suns.

*The Suns currently are tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors for the best record in the Western Conference at 7-1. And by virtue of the tie-breaker system, the No. 1 seed is currently owned by Phoenix. That 7-1 record also is the second-best worksheet in the NBA behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are a perfect 9-0.

*This is the finale of a season-high tying five-game home stand for the Mavs before they start a three-game trip Sunday in Denver. The road trip also includes a game Tuesday in San Francisco against the Golden State Warriors and a game on Nov. 14 at Utah before the Mavs return home against San Antonio on Nov. 16.

*This is only a one-game trip for the Suns before they return home to entertain the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. After that, the Suns embark on a four-game road trip when they play Tuesday in Utah, Wednesday in Sacramento, Nov. 15 in Oklahoma City and Nov. 17 in Minnesota.

*The Mavs are coming off Wednesday’s impressive 119-99 win over Chicago when they racked up a season-high 33 assists and held the Bulls to just 28.6 percent shooting (12-of-42) from three-point range.

*Luka Dončić scored 40 points – his high-point total for this season – when the Mavs lost in Phoenix, 114-102, on Oct. 26. The Mavs committed 28 fouls in that game, and that led to the Suns attempting 37 free throws. Phoenix made 28 freebies in that contest. Also in that game, Suns center Jusuf Nurkic collected 18 points and 14 rebounds, while the Mavs got 22 points from Kyrie Irving and 19 points from Klay Thompson.

*Phoenix comes to Dallas riding a six-game winning streak. The Suns’ only loss this season was in their second game of the season when they traveled to Los Angeles and were defeated by the Lakers, 123-116. In that game, Phoenix shot 51.2 percent from the field, 45.9 percent from three-point range, and also dispensed a whopping 35 assists. At one point in the first half, the Suns converted nine consecutive three-pointers.

*Mavs guard Jaden Hardy had 11 points in just 13 minutes during Wednesday’s victory over Chicago. He also was 3-of-7 from three-point land. “He got some good looks,” coach Jason Kidd said. “Hopefully he can stack that in a positive way, because we’re going to need him with some of the injuries that we’ve had. I thought he got some great looks that he knocked down and we’re going to need those (Friday) night.”

*Mavs forward P. J. Washington (right knee sprain), center Dereck Lively II (right shoulder sprain) and guard Dante Exum (right wrist surgery) will miss Friday’s game, while forward Maxi Kleber (right hamstring strain) is listed as doubtful.

PHOENIX SUNS (7-1) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (5-3)

When: 6:30 p.m., Friday

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV: KFAA-29, ESPN, MavsTV Stream

Radio: KEGL 97.1 FM The Eagle, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @DwainPrice