Mavericks at Suns: Game 41 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (23-17) at Phoenix Suns (22-16)
Friday Jan. 17, 8:00 CST at the US Airways Center
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by 1

2013-14 Matchups
Dec. 21 at Phoenix
Suns 123 Mavs 108

All-Time Series
Suns 74 Mavs 64

Team Rankings
Mavs
Offense: 5th (109.3)
Defense: 21st (107.4)
Suns
Offense: 10th (107.7)
Defense: 13th (105.1)

 Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Suns
PG: Goran Dragic
SG: Gerald Green
SF: P.J. Tucker
PF: Channing Frye
C: Miles Plumlee

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 21.3
RPG: Marion, 7.1
APG: Ellis, 6.0
PER: Nowitzki, 23.6
Suns
PPG: Dragic, 19.3
RPG: Plumlee, 9.0
APG: Dragic, 6.0
PER: Dragic, 20.5

Notes
The Suns lead the Mavs by percentage points for 7th place in the West. Tonight's game marks the halfway point of the season for the Mavs. They were 17-24 last year through 41 games. Eric Bledsoe is out indefinitely for Phoenix after knee surgery. Dallas has lost two straight to the Suns. Before that they had won 11 out of 12 vs. Phoenix. Since they only play 3 times this year a Suns win would give them the season series win and any potential tiebreaker for playoff positioning.