The Dallas Mavericks, currently on a seven-game losing streak, face a challenging task as they prepare to take on the Phoenix Suns, who are seventh in the Western Conference. The Mavericks are determined to halt their losing streak and secure a victory against Phoenix. The Suns, on the other hand, boast a strong record against Western Conference opponents, standing at 21-15, and have a 14-17 record against teams with a winning percentage above 0.500. However, the Mavericks have struggled against conference opponents, with a record of 11-23, and have been outscored by 3.0 points per game. The Suns' shooting percentage of 46.0% from the field this season is 0.5 percentage points lower than the Mavericks' opponents' average, while the Mavericks' shooting percentage of 47.0% is 0.2% higher than the Suns' opponents' average. The teams met for the first time this season on November 13, with the Suns emerging victorious by a score of 123-114. The top performers for the Suns include Collin Gillespie, who averages 13.6 points and 4.7 assists, while Dillon Brooks has been on fire, averaging 22.1 points over the last 10 games. For the Mavericks, P.J. Washington leads the way with 14.1 points per game and 7.1 rebounds, and Cooper Flagg has been a standout with 22.0 points and 6.6 rebounds over the last 10 games. The Suns have had a mixed bag of results in their last 10 games, going 5-5, with an average of 109.0 points, 41.9 rebounds, 22.9 assists, 9.9 steals, and 3.2 blocks per game, while shooting 44.8% from the field. The Mavericks, on the other hand, have struggled in their last 10 games, going 3-7, with an average of 116.6 points, 46.9 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 7.2 steals, and 5.0 blocks per game, while shooting 46.4% from the field. The Suns have a few injury concerns, with Isaiah Livers listed as day-to-day due to a shoulder issue, Cole Anthony dealing with a non-injury-related day-to-day status, and Grayson Allen nursing a knee injury. The Mavericks, unfortunately, have more significant injuries, with Dereck Lively II out for the season due to a foot injury, Khris Middleton listed as day-to-day, and Kyrie Irving out with a knee injury. The game will be a crucial test for both teams as they look to turn their fortunes around.
