Mavs Game Preview: Game 2 @ Suns

Things might get heated in the Valley of the Sun again

Photo by Christian Petersen / Getty Images

With many new subscribers joining after Game 1, let me quickly recap the plan for regular season game previews.

Here’s how each preview will be structured, so you can quickly find the most relevant parts if you’re short on time or ready for a full deep-dive:

• Game facts: Essential info and game notes.

• Three key questions: Big-picture questions for each matchup.

• Dallas on offense | Opponent on defense: Who and how the Mavs will attack.

• Dallas on defense | Opponent on offense: How opponents attack and how the Mavs scheme to defend it.

• Scouting section: A short video clip breaking down the opponent’s X’s and O’s.

• Other notes: Final thoughts and closing points.

Also, I’ll pick one game each week as the Game of the Week (this week it was the season opener against the Spurs). For those, both previews and post-game notes will be fully accessible to everyone. For other games, some of the insights will be limited to paid subscribers only, so if you can, please consider upgrading to support the work!

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Mavs (1-0) @ Suns (1-1) game facts

Rest: PHO is on the second night of a back-to-back (with travel), DAL on 1 day of rest.

Mavs 2023-24 record vs Suns: 2-1

DAL injuries: Dante Exum (OUT), Kessler Edwards (OUT)

PHO injuries: Injury report not submitted at the time of writing (Grayson Allen missed the last game for personal reasons).

PHO projected starting 5: Tyus Jones (G), Devin Booker (G), Bradley Beal (F), Kevin Durant (F), Jusuf Nurkić (C)

PHO key reserves: Royce O’Neal, Mason Plumlee, Monte Morris, Ryan Dunn, Grayson Allen

PHO Rotation:

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Three key questions heading into the game

Dončić dropped 50, 34, and 41 last season against the Suns. Is it time for another Luka Special?

How will the Mavericks' perimeter defense hold up in its first real test?

Can the bigger Mavericks punish the Suns’ inevitable small-ball?

Mavs on offense | Suns on defense