Suns and Mavericks face important matchup in Dallas
ExpandingTwo teams looking to tie each other in a crowded Western Conference playoffs will meet on Thursday, with the Dallas Mavericks hosting the Phoenix Suns in the first game after the All-Star break.
With less than two months left in the regular season, the Suns, fifth in the Western Conference standings, hold just a one-game advantage over the seventh-place Mavericks, and each team will advance to a seven-seed play-in tournament. We hope to avoid this. Ten.
The Suns will play Thursday's winner in five of their last six games under first-year coach Frank Vogel.
“I think we're finding a good rhythm, but we know how good the West is,” Vogel said. “We need to push the envelope to excel in every area possible and focus on the details. Once the break is over, we hope to hit some Ws and start.”
What helps the Suns win is their ability to field a healthy roster in recent months. After trading for Bradley Beal before the season, Phoenix already boasted one of the league's top backcourts in forward Kevin Durant and guard Devin Booker.
However, various injuries prevented the trio from sharing the court together until December 13th.
Now in a position to play as a complete unit, the Suns are fighting for a strong second half.
“We've become more united,” Durant said. “We're working more as a unit and the players understand their roles and what they bring to the team. I think by this time you're starting to see that. For the most part, everyone's healthy. Brad (Beal) has made some adjustments, but I like how we've been able to play games together consistently over the last month or so.”
Durant leads the team with 28.2 points per game, followed by Booker (27.5 points) and Beal (18.2 points).
No team in the Western Conference has been more eager to break out than the Dallas Mavericks.
Dallas coach Jason Kidd, who has won six straight games, believes his team has become even better with its two trade deadline acquisitions.
The Mavericks strengthened their roster by acquiring big men Daniel Gafford from the Wizards and PJ Washington from the Hornets.
“With the addition of P.J. and Gafford, we’re bigger and we’ve got a little bit more talent,” Kidd said. “P.J. can score and he can defend. Gafford can rebound, score and block shots. Those two guys have been great. They're excited to be here.”
In three games since arriving, Gafford averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Washington added 8.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in Dallas' three wins.
The newcomer joins a Mavericks team that ranks third in the Western Conference with 118.7 points per game, thanks to All-Star Luka Doncic's conference-best 34.2 points per game. Kyrie Irving follows with 25.2 points per contest.
Phoenix and Dallas have split the first two games this year, most recently on Jan. 24, when the Suns won 132-109 at Dallas. If the Mavericks win on Thursday, it will be their first season series win over the Suns since 2015. 16 campaigns.
–Field level media
