Mavs at Suns 8:00ET TNT MY45

[FArting]

After some initial struggles, the Dallas Mavericks appear to be finding their way in their first season under coach Rick Carlisle.
The opposite has been the case for the Phoenix Suns, who have hit a rough patch after an auspicious beginning to Terry Porter's tenure on the bench.

The Mavericks seek their eighth win in nine games on Thursday night when they host the struggling Suns in a matchup between perennial contenders still adjusting to their new coaches.Dallas (9-8) lost seven of its first nine games under Carlisle, who was hired in the offseason following the firing of Avery Johnson -- a 50-game winner in each of his three full seasons with the Mavericks.

However, after the slow start -- the team's worst since 1998-99 -- the Mavericks have won seven of eight to re-establish themselves as contenders in the West. Their lone loss in that stretch came on the road against the conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

The Mavericks appeared to be en route to another defeat Tuesday, when they trailed the Los Angeles Clippers by 15 points early in the fourth quarter before mounting a furious comeback. Jose Juan Barea scored nine of his 15 points in the period and capped the rally with a game-winning 3-pointer with 50.2 seconds left as Dallas stole a 100-98 victory."It was unorthodox really all night," said Carlisle, whose team trailed the entire game before Barea's last shot. "It was just a search for some energy, a spark at the defensive end. .... For a four-minute stretch we caught lightning in a bottle and found some magic."

That's what the Suns (11-8) are looking for after dropping three straight for the first time this season. Phoenix won eight of its first 11 games under Porter after four straight 50-win seasons under Mike D'Antoni, but has lost five of eight since the hot start.The Suns haven't always been at full strength during their skid.Two-time MVP Steve Nash missed Friday's loss to Miami with a bruised thigh, and sat out Wednesday night's 104-91 defeat at New Orleans with flu-like symptoms. The Suns are averaging 101.3 points when Nash plays, compared with 93.3 points in the three games he's missed this season.

Shaquille O'Neal was also inactive Wednesday as part of Porter's plan to avoid playing him back-to-back nights to keep him healthy for the postseason. O'Neal is expected to start against the Mavericks, while Nash will likely be a gametime decision.Without both players Wednesday, Phoenix gave up 17 offensive rebounds and 28 second-chance points, and got outscored 30-10 at the free-throw line."I thought we came out and played pretty good tonight, we just didn't have enough at the end," Porter said. "Offensive rebounds really hurt us, and those guys got to the line a lot."

Dallas took two of three meetings with the Suns last season, including the only one at the American Airlines Center.Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, averaging 26.4 points and 11.0 rebounds in his last eight games, averaged 33.0 points and 11.0 boards against the Suns in last season's series.Nash, who played in Dallas for six seasons and remains close with Nowitzki, has averaged 23.2 points and 11.6 assists in 25 games -- including postseason -- against his former team since signing with Phoenix before the 2004-05 season.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=281204006

My prediction
Suns 98
Mavs 103

Nowitzski

GO SUNS

 

[mojorizen7]

If there's such a thing as must wins in December i'd say that this qualifies.

 

[Ronin]

Dallas usually kills us on the offensive boards.....i don't see that changing tonight.
Dallas 98
Suns 88

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Suns 117
Mavs 104

 

[Bufalay]

Are Dirk and Nash still friends? If they are, I'm not going to watch the game.

 

[mojorizen7]

Are Dirk and Nash still friends? If they are, I'm not going to watch the game.

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[AfroSuns]

Suns 99
Mavs 91

Go Suns!!!!!!!

 

[Roca Dolla]

SUNS 106
MAVS 99

Amare 40/15/5/3

GO SUNS!

 

[mojorizen7]

Suns 105
Mavs 99

 

[Cheesebeef]

a game against a Western Conference playoff hopeful not named Portland? Looks like a sure L to me.

 

[Bufalay]

a game against a Western Conference playoff hopeful not named Portland? Looks like a sure L to me.

Only reason they beat Portland was because they Blazers suck on the road.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Only reason they beat Portland was because they Blazers suck on the road.

didn't stop us from losing at home the Nets and Heat. i think we're just a bad matchup for the Blazers.

 

[mojorizen7]

I don't want to start an argument here(cuz i'm not saying that Bell is the only reason we're struggling) but when is Porter gonna get Bell outta the starting lineup? Start Barnes/Hill/ Barbs/Barnes Barbs/Hill.......sheesh.

I haven't seen Cuban in awhile.....is he still as obnoxious as ever or has he found his seat yet?

 

[AfroSuns]

Only reason they beat Portland was because they Blazers suck on the road.

I believe they lost a home game to the Suns this season.

 

[Andrew]

I love NBA on TNT, they get so INTO it.

 

[mojorizen7]

Spanish audio.....hilarious.

 

[Brianellsworth]

Amare 3 of 5 to start the game.

 

[Brianellsworth]

After last nights game we only have 3 members in this thread????? wow

 

[mojorizen7]

nice steal by bell. refs missed that over & back

 

[mojorizen7]

bell is junk

 

[Blackification]

take bell out before its too late!

 

[Andrew]

It being in spanish for like 2 minutes scared me lol....they are implementing Amare early...he looks aggressive.

 

[mojorizen7]

bell could have built a barn with all the space he got there & chucks up an offbalance brick.

 

[Brianellsworth]

Amare is trying to have a statement game after last nights.

 

[elindholm]

Six minutes in:

Dampier + Nowitzki: 6 rebounds
O'Neal + Stoudemire: 2 rebounds