The Dallas Mavericks welcome the Phoenix Suns in their inaugural post-All-Star break matchup.
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Two squads vying for distinction in the densely populated Western Conference playoff landscape collide on Thursday as the Dallas Mavericks welcome the Phoenix Suns in their inaugural post-All-Star break matchup.
With the regular season dwindling to less than two months, the Suns, currently in fifth place, cling to a mere one-game lead over the seventh-seeded Mavericks in the Western Conference standings. Both teams are determined to steer clear of the play-in tournament reserved for seeds 7-10.
The Suns, under the guidance of first-year coach Frank Vogel, have triumphed in five of their last six games, setting the stage for an intense showdown.
For the Mavericks, Exum (knee injury) and Kleber (toe injury) will not be playing the game. As for the Suns, Lee (knee injury) will be sitting this one out. Besides, Beal (muscle injury) could also miss out on the game.
Contributing to the Suns’ string of victories has been their ability to maintain a healthy lineup in recent months. Following the acquisition of Bradley Beal before the season, Phoenix showcased one of the premier backcourts in the league, complementing forward Kevin Durant and guard Devin Booker.
Nevertheless, due to a series of injuries, the trio didn’t play together until Dec. 13. Now, with the opportunity to compete as a cohesive unit, the Suns are poised for a formidable second half of the season. Durant leads the team with an average of 28.2 points per game, closely followed by Booker with 27.5 and Beal with 18.2.
The Dallas Mavericks were the hottest team in the Western Conference heading into the break. Winners of six consecutive games, Dallas coach Jason Kidd believes the team improved even further with two trade deadline acquisitions. The Mavericks strengthened their roster by acquiring big men Daniel Gafford from the Wizards and P.J. Washington from the Hornets.
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