The Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant will be taking on the Dallas Mavericks for one more time. They are coming from a hard-fought 110-100 victory against the Nuggets. The Suns are most likely to get hold of the Mavs as they are in an odd situation with injuries. However, Arizona fans are worried about Durant playing against the Mavs.
Kevin Durant is not listed in the injury report and most likely to start for the Sun against the Mavs. Whereas, Devin Booker is out for left groin strain for the game. Grayson Allen and Bol Bol are out with concussion protocol and left knee contusion respectively.
For the Mavericks, Dereck Lively II is listed as questionable with a left hip concussion, and Luka Doncic is out with a left calf strain for an extended period of time. Similarly, Dante Exum is out due to his right wrist surgery.
Devin Booker (left groin strain), Grayson Allen (concussion protocol) and Bol Bol (left knee contusion) remain out for the Suns' game against the Mavs tomorrow
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) December 27, 2024
During their last game, which was against the Nuggets, Phoenix put a stop to their three-game losing streak and avenged a tough 117-90 loss just two nights earlier. In front of a lively sellout crowd at Footprint Center, Durant and Bradley Beal stole the spotlight. Each contributed 27 points to the win. With Booker sidelined, along with Allen and Bol, the Suns remained determined. The Suns collectively pulled down 12 offensive rebounds and snagged 13 steals. Though their three-point shooting cooled off after a sizzling start, their early 6- of-6 from deep set the tone for the win.
Kevin Durant Has High Praises For Nikola Jokic
In the Christmas Day matchup, the Suns managed to overcome the Nuggets and marked a much-needed turnaround. Kevin Durant played a crucial role in the victory, but he didn’t just focus on his own team’s success. In a heartfelt post-game interview with ESPN, he took a moment to shine the spotlight on Nikola Jokic.
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“They (the Nuggets) got, you know, arguably the best player in the world, a top 10 player of all time in Jokic,” KD said after the game.
Kevin Durant calls Nikola Jokic a “Top 10” player of all time. pic.twitter.com/KDlhCwUXmj
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) December 26, 2024
That’s some serious respect from Durant for the Serbian star, who is putting up jaw-dropping stats this season with averages of 30.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 9.4 assists per game. While the Nuggets are currently grappling with inconsistency, sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference at 16-12, Jokic’s individual brilliance cannot be overlooked.
“It’s not just [me, Steph and LeBron], you see Jokic tonight. You see a hall of famer, an icon in Russ tonight. … It was an amazing day for basketball, I’m grateful I was able to play,” he added.
"It's not just [me, Steph and LeBron], you see Jokic tonight. You see a hall of famer, an icon in Russ tonight. … It was an amazing day for basketball, I'm grateful I was able to play."
— ESPN (@espn) December 26, 2024
—Kevin Durant wraps up NBA Christmas in the perfect way 🏀 pic.twitter.com/wPKcXEk4D9
After the game, Durant also addressed a pressing concern in the NBA world: viewership numbers have been on a decline. Yet, he seemed hopeful, pointing out that this year’s Christmas Day games saw a notable spike in viewership, with an impressive 84% increase from last season.
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