Mavs' Matchup Against Suns Carries Pivotal Playoff Implications

The Mavs will begin their post-All-Star break schedule with a matchup against the Suns as the team looks to build on their recent momentum.

DALLAS — Entering Thursday's matchup against the Phoenix Suns, the Dallas Mavericks have established a six-game winning streak, but with a 32-23 record, the team ranks seventh in the Western Conference standings. With a matchup against the 33-22 Suns, the game could determine who temporarily stays within the top six and the season tiebreaker. 

“We feel really good about what we’re doing on both sides of the ball,” Kidd said. “We’re getting healthier and deeper. Now we don’t have to play our guys 43 minutes. Now, it’s just about winning. No matter who scores, it’s the W column that we’re trying to build right now.”

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The last time these two teams faced off was on Jan. 24, resulting in the Suns achieving a 132-109 victory in Dallas despite the Mavs leading by as many as 16 points. Luka Doncic led Dallas to a 128-114 win in Phoenix on Christmas Day by recording a historic 50 points and 15 assists. However, Kyrie Irving was sidelined in both games due to an injury, among other factors. 

It remains to be seen if Bradley Beal will be available to play on Thursday since he's questionable due to left hamstring tightness. The Mavs will continue to play without Dante Exum as he works his way back from right knee bursitis. Aside from those injuries, both teams will have a mostly healthy roster. Both teams have since added new players, too, with Dallas trading for P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, while Phoenix has since acquired Royce O'Neale and Thaddeus Young.

When looking beyond the wins and losses, the Mavs have executed well throughout their recent games despite playing many teams that have dealt with injuries to important players or simply been underwhelming opponents. The team is focused on not getting too high on that success, given they are still outside the top six of the Western Conference, placing them in the play-in seeding. 

“We got to approach it as if we’re not in the playoffs right now,” Mavs wing Tim Hardaway Jr. said after Wednesday's practice. “We’re only in the play-in with the standings how (they are) now. So we got to get back into the top six. And it starts tomorrow.”

The Mavs' recent opponents have been underwhelming in quality, but the team will have plenty of chances to test themselves against winning teams coming out of the NBA All-Star break. It starts against the Suns, followed by a four-game Eastern Conference road trip, including matchups against the Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics. After that? Dallas will play three games at home, highlighted by matchups against the Pacers and Miami Heat. Before looking ahead, the focus is on Phoenix. 

“Coming out of the gates, Phoenix is a team we’re chasing,” Kidd said. “Then you head to Indiana with Rick (Carlisle), and they score 200 points a night. And then you go to Cleveland. They’ve won 18 out of (20). And then to Toronto, celebrate a birthday there. It’s a national holiday (Luka will turn 25 when the Mavericks play Toronto on Feb. 28). And then we begin the month of March in Boston. So it’s not easy.”

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Coming out of the break, the Mavs will have a chance to try different lineups and test strategies after getting healthier, enabling them to try building on the early success achieved with Washington and Gafford in the fold, adding to the team's depth. 

“The key word is team,” Kidd said. “I think we’re coming together. We’re starting to get healthy. That’s going to be a little bit of a change because we’re not used to being healthy. So, minutes won’t be as high. Guys have to make that adjustment, but our depth should be one of our weapons. It should be an exciting second half.”

If the Mavs managed to win against the Suns, it would extend the team's winning streak to seven straight. With a four-game road trip coming up next, Dallas would be better insulated to handle the challenges of playing four games in six nights with plenty of tough opponents involved. Otherwise, recent momentum could be quickly forgotten as March nears.