PHOENIX — In a battle between two of the top three teams in the Western Conference, the Dallas Mavericks will face the Phoenix Suns tonight at 9 p.m. at Footprint Center.
The Mavs are seeded third in the West and have won five of their last six games, while the Suns are second in the West and have won nine consecutive games. However, the Mavs will be without superstar point guard Luka Doncic, who sprained his left ankle and left knee in Monday’s victory over the Denver Nuggets.
PREVIEW
MAVERICKS (9-4) AT SUNS (10-3)
Time: 9 p.m.
Place: Footprint Center, Phoenix
TV: BSSW, ESPN
Radio: The Eagle, 97.1 FM; Univision 99.1 FM (Spanish)
About the Mavericks: The biggest story coming out of the Mavs’ camp is the health of two-time All-Star point guard Luka Doncic, who hobbled off the court with 44 seconds remaining in Monday’s 111-101 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Following a series of tests, the Mavs have announced that Doncic will not play tonight due to sprains in his left knee and left ankle. Doncic, who averages team highs of 24.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 7.9 apg, did make the road trip to Phoenix with the Mavs. . .This is the first of two games in Phoenix against the Suns for the Mavs in a three-day span. The Mavs and Suns will also play in the Valley of the Sun on Friday night before Dallas flies to Los Angeles to play the Clippers on Sunday and again on Tuesday. . .Currently sitting in the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference, the Mavs have won five of their last six games with the lone loss coming Nov. 10 on the road against the Chicago Bulls, 117-107. . .Kristaps Porzingis has strung together some pretty impressive numbers lately. The 7-3 forward/center collected 22 points and 12 rebounds against the Bulls. He followed that up with a season-high 32 points, seven rebounds and three blocks last Friday against San Antonio. And in the 10-point win over the Nuggets, Porzingis contributed 29 points, 11 rebounds and two steals. . .Tim Hardaway Jr. had 19 points and seven boards against the Nuggets, and Jalen Brunson added 17 points (8-of-12 shots) and six assists off the bench.
About the Suns: After a rocky beginning to this season when they lost three of their first four games, everything has been coming up roses for the Suns. . . .Chris Paul tallied 19 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter on Monday, and Phoenix gutted out a 99-96 victory on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Paul was just 1-of-7 from the field with two points in the first three quarters, but converted 5-of-7 shots in the fourth quarter. The victory over Minnesota was the ninth straight for the Suns, and is currently the longest winning streak in the NBA and the longest for the Suns since they won 10 in a row from March 14-April 2, 2010. . .The game against the Timberwolves marked the third straight game the Suns have held an opponent under 100 points, and is the first time they’ve accomplished that feat since March 27-30, 2015. The Suns won at Memphis last Friday, 119-94, and emerged victorious at Houston this past Sunday, 115-89. . .The Suns are the No. 2 seed out West. . .This is the opener of a three-game home stand for Phoenix. In addition to the pair of games against Dallas, the Suns will entertain the Denver Nuggets on Sunday before jetting off to San Antonio to play the last leg of a back-to-back against the Spurs on Monday in what will be the opener of a four-game road trip. . .Devin Booker, who is averaging 22.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 5.5 apg, scored 29 points in the victory over Minnesota. . .After missing five consecutive games with a lower right leg contusion, Deandre Ayton returned Monday against the Timberwolves and contributed 22 points and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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