The Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks will meet for the second time this season, with the latter out for revenge. The Suns are surging but can they sustain their momentum by beating Dallas again? Or, will the Mavericks humble Phoenix?

Catch this game live on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 8:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Phoenix Suns (7-2/2-1 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

• Tyus Jones
• Devin Booker
• Bradley Beal (Probable)
• Kevin Durant
• Jusuf Nurkic

Kevin Durant and the Suns are cruising. They have not dropped a game since a late October loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on the road, having won all of their next six games after that. Phoenix’s win streak began with a 114-102 win at home against the Mavericks, where Durant blasted Dallas with 31 points while Devin Booker produced 21 points. In their most recent outing, the Suns escaped with a 115-112 win over the Miami Heat at home to end a three-game homestand undefeated. Durant led the Suns in the Miami game with 32 points but it was Jusuf Nurkic, who came out with a big surprise, as he had 20 points with 18 rebounds.  

The Bosnian Beast could have another big game against a thin Mavs frontcourt that is missing Dereck Lively II and potentially Max Kleber as well.  In the first meeting with Dallas, Nurkic had 18 points and 14 boards. But at the end of the day, it’s the trio of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal that will dictate the direction of Phoenix, which is averaging 114.5 points per game and posting a healthy 56.5 effective field goal percentage. Beal is listed as probable at the time of this writing but is expected to see action versus Dallas.

Home: Dallas Mavericks (5-3/ 4-2 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

• Luka Doncic
• Kyrie Irving
• Klay Thompson
• Naji Marshall
• Daniel Gafford

It has been a bumpy ride of late for Luka Doncic and the Mavericks. They have alternated wins with losses in their last five games, going 3-2 straight up over that stretch. They are hoping that trend ends this Saturday against Phoenix, as Dallas is coming off a 119-99 victory at home versus the Chicago Bulls. Doncic came up with 27 points against the Bulls, and he will look to keep it going in the Suns rematch. 

The Slovenian fired 40 points in the first encounter with Phoenix while shooting 12-for-25 from the floor. What held back the Mavs a lot in that game was their inefficiency on offense, as they shot just 39.8 percent from the floor but their defense also doomed them. They committed 28 fouls which allowed the Suns to go 28-for-37 from the foul line. Dallas, on the other hand, was just 15-for-18 from the foul line. Perhaps more calls will favor the Mavs this time around, with Saturday’s contest taking place at American Airlines Center.

Picks

Spread: Phoenix Suns (+3.5)

Over/Under: 231.0 (Under)