Suns Gear Up for Mavericks Showdown Amidst Injury Woes
The Phoenix Suns are set to clash with the Dallas Mavericks this Wednesday night, unveiling their starting lineup amid injury challenges for both teams. The Suns will once again be without Jalen Green, who is sidelined for the next 4-6 weeks due to a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are facing their own hurdles, missing key players including Kyrie Irving (knee), Dereck Lively (knee), and Anthony Davis (calf).
Suns’ Starting Lineup Against the Mavericks
Devin Booker
Grayson Allen
Dillon Brooks
Royce O’Neale
Mark Williams
As the Suns take the court, all eyes will be on Devin Booker, who is coming off a season-low 19-point performance in Phoenix’s recent victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite his subdued scoring, he only attempted 13 shots and rested during the fourth quarter, a strategic decision that benefited the team. However, Grayson Allen stole the spotlight in that game, delivering an electrifying career-high 42 points while shattering the franchise record for three-pointers made in a single game.
With the Mavericks’ defense ranked seventh in the league for allowed three-point percentage at 33.9%, Allen’s recent hot streak will be crucial for the Suns’ offensive strategy. Suns head coach Jordan Ott emphasized Allen’s shooting prowess, stating, “He just shoots it from so far away with ease. We’re trying to get him to shoot more; his career numbers always show he shoots at a high clip. We need him to shoot more.”
Key Contributors in the Suns’ Rotation
Booker and Allen stand out as the only Suns players to have started all 11 games this season. Dillon Brooks has returned from a core injury that kept him sidelined for over five games, and he currently leads the team with an average of 2.2 steals per game—although he also averages 3.4 fouls, a testament to his aggressive style of play.
Royce O’Neale has transformed his role, shooting three-pointers at a career-high rate of 44%. Once seen as a potential trade candidate, he has solidified his status as a reliable contributor with seven starts to his name this season.
Mark Williams has emerged as a pleasant surprise for the Suns, remaining healthy after previous injury struggles. Acquired from the Hornets over the summer, he has only missed one game thus far and is just shy of a double-double average, posting 11.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per night.
Current Team Trajectories
Entering this matchup, the Suns have won five of their last six games, bringing their season record to 5-6. In contrast, the Mavericks are struggling at 3-8, raising questions about their performance and potential adjustments.
With the game scheduled to tip off at 6:30 PM MST, both teams will be eager to seize this opportunity to shift their trajectories amid their respective challenges.
