They sure put on a show in their last game against each other.
The Phoenix Suns outlasted the Dallas Mavericks, 130-126, on March 5 at American Airlines Arena as Kevin Durant scored 37 points that included the game winner in a back-and-forth battle that saw four players have 30-point games.
Devin Booker scored 36 points, Luka Doncic posted 34 and Kyrie Irving went for 30.
All four are back with their respective teams as the NBA is having the Mavs face the Suns at Footprint Center as part of the five-game Christmas slate, sources confirmed Thursday evening to The Arizona Republic.
"Just get there."
Kevin Durant on getting to his spot for the game winner over Tim Hardaway Jr. in #Suns win over #Mavs.
"Once I had him on my hip, I felt like I was in good position to just stop on a dime. Glad I made it." https://t.co/Em19MzTouP pic.twitter.com/3oHJv7I77O
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 5, 2023
The Athletic first reported the news as the remaining four Christmas games are as follows:
- Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks.
- Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat.
- Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers.
- Golden State Warriors at defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets.
The NBA is expected to release its full 2023-24 regular season schedule as early as next week.
Luka Doncic (77) of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball as Chris Paul (3) of the Phoenix Suns looks on in the first half of the game at American Airlines Center on March 5, 2023/ in Dallas, Texas.
This will be the third consecutive Christmas game for the Suns.
They lost to the Warriors in the 2021-22 season at home, 116-107 and fell to the Nuggets last season in overtime, 128-125, in Denver.
Durant and Irving were teammates in Brooklyn before being traded to the Suns and Mavs, respectively, before the Feb. 9 trade deadline. The Suns have since added Bradley Beal in a blockbuster deal in the offseason.
