Game Preview: Struggling Suns face struggling Mavericks in Christmas Day showdown

Who: Dallas Mavericks (17-12) vs. Phoenix Suns (14-14)

When: December 25, Monday, 8:30 p.m. Arizona Time

Where: Phoenix, Arizona’s Footprint Center

Observe: ESPN

Tune in to KMVP 98.7 FM.

For the Suns, the sky is now falling. The lineup is disorganized, Bradley Beal—well, he’s hurt again—and Eric Gordon—who is understandably frustrated—aren’t getting enough shots.

B/R Exclusive: A vital veteran wants a larger role with the team following another defeat for the struggling Phoenix Suns.This link: t.co/jl7yC8trmV

— December 23, 2023, Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes)

There’s no denying that the Suns are in a mess right now. Maybe starting a turnaround at home on Christmas Day against a recent rival can happen.

Over the past few years, the Suns and Mavericks have played in a number of highly memorable games. In Game 7 of the 2022 Western Conference Semi-Finals, Dallas destroyed Phoenix following a fiercely contested series two seasons prior. Luka Dončić and Devin Booker got into a brawl at the end of a March game last year.

Anyone who watches this game will not be surprised if it is fiercely contested the entire time. Perhaps that’s just what the Suns need to get back on track and ignite them. A potentially pivotal moment for a team in dire need of one. Whether or not they are injured, Phoenix has fallen short thus far, and that must change if they are to meet their objectives.

Most Likely To Begin

Phoenix:

Devin Booker
Gary Grayson Allen, Eric Gordon
Kevin Durant
Eubanks, Drew

Dallas:

Luka Dončić
Dante Exum
Grant Williams vs. Derrick Jones Jr. Dereck Lively Uniform Matchup

Report on Injury

Suns:

Bradley Beal is out with a sprained right ankle.

Eric Gordon: Probably experiencing right hip pain

Damion Lee: OUT (Surgery of the Right Meniscus)

Available (Orbital Fracture) – Nassir Little

Jusuf Nurkić: Resigned for Individual Causes

Josh Okogie: RISKY (strain of the right hip)

Yuta Watanabe: (Right Finger Sprain) – PROBABLE

Mavericks:

Josh Green is out with a sprained right elbow.

Kyrie Irving—OUT—has a contusion in his right heel.

Maxi Kleber: OUT (dislocation of the right small toe)

Dereck Lively II: QUESTIONABLE (sprain of the left ankle)

Things to Keep an Eye Out for

There will undoubtedly be a ton of offensive fireworks even with Kyrie Irving not available for Dallas. When these two teams last played, Durant, Booker, and Dončić scored an incredible 107 points between them all. Given that both teams have significant injuries to their supporting casts, those three could be producing offensive numbers comparable to those of today.

Eric Gordon recently expressed his dissatisfaction over his dearth of shots. He played more than half the game in the previous game and only took two. After expressing his concerns to the media in public, expect him to turn things up a notch. Phoenix might be better off allowing him to vent his frustrations given the team’s recent setbacks.

Dončić and Booker’s performances are always a must-see. While Dončić downplayed any animosity between the two stars in a recent interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, their shared history raises the possibility of an exciting matchup.

Essential Elements for a Suns Victory

Phoenix should win this game if they can put together four solid quarters. Dallas has dropped four of its last six games; its two victories came against two awful, young, and inexperienced teams—the Spurs and the Blazers. Playing the entire 48 minutes would help the team develop better habits as well as increase their chances of winning.

Luka Dončić is an offensive threat that can never be stopped, no matter what Phoenix or any team does. The Mavs’ offensive attack will be unbalanced if the Suns can contain everyone else for Dallas, including Dereck Lively II, Dante Exum, and Tim Hardaway Jr., who, if he plays, will be making his comeback from a four-game absence due to an ankle sprain.

Forecast

It’s difficult to imagine a Suns team that can play like a whole basketball team for the duration of a game right now, but considering Dallas’ injury woes, it might not be necessary. Phoenix feels like they can win this game even with all of their problems because Booker and Durant are doing the bulk of the lifting. This may not be the game where they reach a turning point.

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