OK, this one looks promising. The two former Net superstars, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, meet for the first time since they forced their way out of Brooklyn as the Dallas Mavericks host the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
The latest injury update Dallas Mavericks – Phoenix Suns
On Sunday, the Phoenix Suns will play the Dallas Mavericks, who are looking for back-to-back victories for the first time since before the All-Star break. This will be the final game of the Suns’ four-game road trip.
In its second game since Kevin Durant joined the lineup, Phoenix scored a second straight blowout win on Friday with its 125-104 romp at Chicago.
Wednesday night in Charlotte, Durant made his NBA debut for the Suns, scoring 23 points and grabbing six rebounds in the team’s 105-91 victory over the Hornets. And against the Bulls, he finished with 20 points, 9 boards, and 6 dimes.
“He’s just being himself,” Devin Booker said of Durant in a postgame interview with Bally Sports Arizona following Friday’s win. “That’s what we need from him. He’s on a minute restriction, and he’s still getting to it. The more aggressive he is — you see them doubling him tonight — just freed up shots for everybody.”
Each of the last two games, with Durant on the court, Booker took advantage of the extra space and scored 37 points versus Charlotte and 35 against Chicago. On Friday, Booker and Durant were two of the three Phoenix scorers to score in double figures.
Due to an MCL sprain, Durant has only been able to play 26:50 and 30:54 in his first two games with the Suns.
Phoenix has a chance to finish its road trip 3-1 and with three straight victories when it travels to Dallas. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are looking for their first consecutive victories since the end of a three-game streak on February 10.
After dropping games to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday and Indiana on Tuesday, Dallas bounced back with a 133-126 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.
A first in franchise history was also achieved with Thursday’s victory. Luka Doncic’s 42 points and Kyrie Irving’s 40 marked the first time two Mavericks reached at least 40 in the same contest.
Irving had 40 points (15-22 FG, 6-8 3Pt, 4-6 FT), four rebounds, six assists, and three steals in 42 minutes.
When playing for the Mavericks, Irving had his finest performance. He hadn’t reached 40 points since late January. The Mavericks’ record since relocating to Dallas is worse than their record in their previous city. If the Mavs are going to make a deep playoff run, this trend has to end.
However, Luka Doncic was outstanding in the victory. He scored 42 points and dished out a game-high 12 assists.
Phoenix is coming to town at a time when the Suns are playing some of their best defensive basketball of the season, which will present a challenge to a Dallas team that is just rounding into offensive form.
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Injury report Mavericks
| PLAYER | UPDATED | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Maxi Kleber | Sat, Mar 4 | Hamstring |
Game Time Decision
|
| AJ Lawson | Fri, Mar 3 | Knee |
Game Time Decision
|
| Davis Bertans | Fri, Mar 3 | Calf |
Game Time Decision
|
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Injury report Suns
| PLAYER | UPDATED | INJURY |
STATUS
|
| Deandre Ayton | Sat, Mar 4 | Knee |
Game Time Decision
|
| Terrence Ross | Sat, Mar 4 | Toe |
Game Time Decision
|
| Landry Shamet | Thu, Mar 2 | Foot |
Expected to be out until at least Mar 11
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