Who: Phoenix Suns (6-5) @ New Orleans Pelicans (3-8)
When: 6:30 pm Arizona Time
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports, NBATV
Listen: KMVP 98.7, KSUN
The Phoenix Suns face the Dallas Mavericks for the first time since former GM Nico Harrison was fired
after the team opened the season 3-8, with “Fire Nico” chants echoing through arenas across the league.That has everything to do with the game on the floor tonight.
After weeks of relentless fan
backlash and chants calling for change, the Mavericks return home Nico-less — a step forward the franchise had to take after a disastrous 3-8 start. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis is injured again, and the Los Angeles Lakers, led by former Maverick Luka Dončić, sit atop the Western Conference standings.
The change at GM could spark a fresh start for Dallas, freeing the team from the dark cloud that hung over them under Nico Harrison’s leadership.
With the Suns riding a three-game winning streak and an atmosphere expected to be electric in Dallas, tonight’s matchup is about pride for both teams — a Suns squad that refuses to quit, and a Mavericks team trying to rediscover its identity after being left on the doorstep of a new era.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
- Jalen Green — OUT (Right Hamstring)
Mavs
- Dante Exum — OUT (Knee)
- Dereck Lively II — OUT (Knee)
- Anthony Davis — OUT (Calf)
- Kyrie Irving — OUT (Knee)
What to Watch For
After a moment of silence for the departure of Nico Harrison, the Suns will be thrown into a whirlwind of Mavericks fans desperate for something to believe in. This is the kind of game where teams rally, the classic “coach just got fired” effect, when players come out with something to prove, showing it wasn’t them that was the problem. With half of the Mavericks’ roster sidelined in street clothes, it will fall on rookie Cooper Flagg to lead Dallas and its crowd in a statement performance against the Suns.
In the opening six minutes, watch the Suns’ body language closely as Dallas looks to strike early and play with emotion. This could be a defining moment for the Mavericks, a chance to turn the page. When it comes to on-court focus, all eyes will be on Flagg.
After tying the game late against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night, Flagg turned the ball over in the final seconds, costing his team the win. It’s been a steep learning curve, but given his talent and drive, it wouldn’t be surprising if he responds tonight with the best game of his young career.
Key to a Suns Win
Don’t let the 3-8 record fool you. Tonight is about keeping the Mavericks at the bottom of the standings and the bottom of the league in scoring, right where they’ve been all season. With Cooper Flagg running the show, the matchup plays into the Suns’ favor. This is a Suns team that has figured out opponents’ best players early and often over the past five games.
The Mavericks currently rank last in points per game, three-pointers made, and three-point percentage. The Suns, meanwhile, have a pair of fireballs in Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen who can put the game away quickly from deep. Beyond shooting, Phoenix has been climbing defensively — but they still need to clean up the turnovers, control the pace, and play their game.
Ranking third in the league with 10.2 steals per game, the Suns can turn those takeaways into transition points — a formula that could lead to another 20-point statement win.
Prediction
Closer than the game on Monday, the Suns still win.
Suns 116, Mavericks 110
