DALLAS, TEXAS — The Dallas Mavericks host the Phoenix Suns tonight at the American Airlines Center on the second night of a back-to-back. The Mavs (29-17) are coming off an emotional win in Oklahoma City last night 107-97. It was the first game Dallas played in since the death of NBA legend and icon Kobe Bryant, who passed away on Sunday morning in a helicopter crash along with his 13-year old daughter and 7 other people.
Players all around the league have spoke out about how much Bryant meant to them and the game of basketball. Every team that has played since Sunday has started the game with an 8-second back court violation and then a 24-second shot clock violation to honor the two jersey numbers Bryant wore in his 20-year career with the Lakers. Luka Doncic also honored him individually in the game last night by wearing a pair of Kobe Bryant shoes and writing the names of all the victims on them. Doncic finished the game with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists.
Tonight, the Mavs match up with Devin Booker who is coming off a game where he scored 36 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists against the Grizzlies on Sunday. Phoenix (19-27) has lost three of their last four games as they look to steal a road victory tonight in Dallas.
The Mavericks on the other hand have won six of their last eight games and are starting a stretch where five of their next seven opponents have loosing records. This could be the first game Mavs’ new center Willie Cauley-Stein plays in since being traded to Dallas from Golden State on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 7:30pm.
