Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns Preview
After suffering through a disappointing seven-game losing streak, the Dallas Mavericks (19-33) are looking to turn their fortunes around as they prepare to face the Phoenix Suns (31-22) on Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST. With the Mavericks currently sitting in 12th place in the Western Conference, the stakes are high in what marks the second meeting between the two teams this season. In their previous encounter on November 13, the Suns secured a victory with a score of 123-114.
Team Performance
The Suns have been performing relatively well against Western Conference rivals, boasting a record of 21 wins and 15 losses, including a 14-17 mark against teams that have winning records. On the other hand, the Mavericks’ struggles continue, as they have only achieved 11 wins against conference opponents and are yielding an average of 117.2 points per game, resulting in an average defeat margin of 3.0 points.
In terms of shooting efficiency, the Suns find themselves making 46.0% of their shots from the field, slightly below the 46.5% shooting percentage allowed by the Mavericks. Conversely, Dallas holds a slight edge with a shooting percentage of 47.0%, surpassing the 46.8% shooting rate of their opponents.
Key Players
Key players for the matchup include Collin Gillespie of the Suns, who is contributing an average of 13.6 points alongside 4.7 assists. Meanwhile, the Mavericks rely on P.J. Washington, who is scoring 14.1 points and grabbing 7.1 rebounds per game. Over the past ten games, Dillon Brooks has been a standout for Dallas, averaging 22.1 points, while Cooper Flagg has been performing impressively for the Mavericks with 22.0 points and 6.6 rebounds.
Recent Performances
Looking at their recent performances, the Suns have gone 5-5 in their last ten games, averaging 109.0 points with a shooting percentage of 44.8%. In contrast, the Mavericks are 3-7 during the same span, managing to average 116.6 points but also giving up an average of 118.3 points per game.
Injury Reports
In terms of injury reports, the Suns will be keeping an eye on the status of Isaiah Livers (shoulder), Cole Anthony (not related to an injury), and Grayson Allen (knee), all listed as day-to-day. The Mavericks are without Dereck Lively II for the season due to a foot injury, with Kyrie Irving also sidelined with a knee issue, while Khris Middleton is day-to-day due to non-injury factors.
Conclusion
As both teams head into this confrontation, Dallas will be eager to snap their losing streak, while Phoenix aims to solidify their position in the playoff race.
