%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201596.5%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201596.5%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%231262AE%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23CCCCCB%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%231C2655%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st1%22%20points%3D%220%2C29%2034.8%2C29%2034.8%2C200%2064.4%2C200%2064.4%2C29%2099.8%2C29%2099.8%2C0%200%2C0%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st1%22%20points%3D%22171.6%2C74.6%20142%2C89.7%20142%2C0%20112.4%2C0%20112.4%2C200%20142%2C200%20142%2C122.6%20171.6%2C107.5%20171.6%2C200%20201.2%2C200%20%0A%09%09201.2%2C0%20171.6%2C0%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st1%22%20d%3D%22M562.9%2C0h-29.6c-4.5%2C0-7.5%2C1.4-9.3%2C4.3l-5.2%2C11.4c-1.7-6.5-3.4-10.4-4.9-12C511.4%2C1.2%2C508%2C0%2C503.7%2C0h-29.6%0A%09%09c-13.2%2C0-21.5%2C2.2-25%2C6.7c-3.1%2C4.4-4.6%2C11.9-4.6%2C22.3v171h29.6V29h29.6V200h29.6V29h29.6V200h29.6V29c0-9.9-1.7-17.1-5.2-21.9%0A%09%09C583.8%2C2.4%2C575.7%2C0%2C562.9%2C0z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st1%22%20d%3D%22M664.3%2C0h-29.6c-13.2%2C0-21.5%2C2.2-25%2C6.7c-3.1%2C4.4-4.6%2C11.9-4.6%2C22.3v142c0%2C9.1%2C1.5%2C16.4%2C4.6%2C22%0A%09%09c4.6%2C4.6%2C13%2C7%2C25%2C7h29.6c13.7%2C0%2C22.1-2.2%2C25.1-6.7c3-4.4%2C4.5-11.9%2C4.5-22.3V29c0-9.9-1.7-17.1-5.2-21.9C685.2%2C2.4%2C677.1%2C0%2C664.3%2C0z%0A%09%09%20M664.3%2C170.9h-29.6V29h29.6V170.9z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st1%22%20points%3D%22802.3%2C0%20770%2C0.1%20736.1%2C80.2%20736.1%2C0%20706.5%2C0%20706.5%2C200%20736.1%2C200%20736.1%2C155.3%20750%2C123.1%20779.5%2C200%20%0A%09%09811.3%2C200%20766.3%2C84.2%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Crect%20x%3D%22817.6%22%20y%3D%220%22%20class%3D%22st1%22%20width%3D%2229.6%22%20height%3D%22200%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st1%22%20d%3D%22M919.2%2C0h-9c-6.4%2C0-10.9%2C1.3-13.6%2C4l-3.8%2C3.1l-3.5%2C5.7V0h-29.6v200h29.6V28.7h29.9V200h29.6V29%0A%09%09c0-8.1-2.8-15-8.4-20.6C934.8%2C2.8%2C927.7%2C0%2C919.2%2C0z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st1%22%20d%3D%22M1021.4%2C0h-29.6c-13.2%2C0-21.5%2C2.2-25%2C6.7c-3.1%2C4.4-4.6%2C11.9-4.6%2C22.3v142c0%2C9.1%2C1.5%2C16.4%2C4.6%2C22%0A%09%09c4.6%2C4.6%2C13%2C7%2C25%2C7h59.5L1051%2C72.8l-44.1%2C22.6v32.8l14.8-7.5v50.2h-29.9V29h29.9v44.2l29.6-15.2V28.9c0-9.8-1.7-17.1-5.2-21.8%0A%09%09C1042.6%2C2.4%2C1034.4%2C0%2C1021.4%2C0z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1161.1%2C0h-29.9c-13.2%2C0-21.5%2C2.2-25%2C6.7c-3.1%2C4.4-4.6%2C11.9-4.6%2C22.3v142c0%2C9.1%2C1.5%2C16.4%2C4.6%2C22%0A%09%09c4.6%2C4.6%2C13%2C7%2C25%2C7h29.9c13.5%2C0%2C21.8-2.4%2C24.8-7.1c3-4.7%2C4.5-12%2C4.5-21.9v-48.5l-29.6%2C15.1l0.3%2C33.4h-29.9V29h29.6v38l29.6-15.4V29%0A%09%09c0-9.9-1.7-17.2-5.2-21.9C1181.7%2C2.4%2C1173.7%2C0%2C1161.1%2C0z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1262.2%2C170.9h-29.6V0H1203v171c0%2C9.1%2C1.5%2C16.4%2C4.6%2C22c4.6%2C4.6%2C13%2C7%2C25%2C7h29.6c13.7%2C0%2C22.1-2.2%2C25.1-6.7%0A%09%09c3-4.4%2C4.5-11.9%2C4.5-22.3V0h-29.6V170.9z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1363.9%2C0h-59.5v200h59.5c13.7%2C0%2C22.1-2.2%2C25.1-6.7c3-4.4%2C4.5-11.9%2C4.5-22.3v-65c0-4.1-1.6-7.6-4.8-10.6%0A%09%09c-3.2-3-6.7-4.5-10.6-4.5c5.4-2.9%2C9.3-5.8%2C11.8-8.8c2.4-3%2C3.6-9%2C3.6-18.1v-35c0-9.8-1.7-17.1-5.2-21.8%0A%09%09C1384.8%2C2.4%2C1376.7%2C0%2C1363.9%2C0z%20M1363.9%2C170.9H1334v-48.5l29.9-15.1V170.9z%20M1363.9%2C74.6L1334%2C89.6V29h29.9L1363.9%2C74.6z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1588.1%2C8.4c-5.6-5.6-12.7-8.4-21.2-8.4h-9c-6.4%2C0-10.9%2C1.3-13.6%2C4l-3.8%2C3.1l-3.5%2C5.7V0h-29.6v200h29.6V28.7%0A%09%09h29.9V200h29.6V29C1596.5%2C20.9%2C1593.7%2C14%2C1588.1%2C8.4z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st1%22%20d%3D%22M431.9%2C41.4l0-12.7c0-9.8-1.8-17-5.3-21.7C423.2%2C2.4%2C415%2C0%2C402.1%2C0h-29.7c-13.1%2C0-21.4%2C2.2-24.8%2C6.7%0A%09%09c-3.1%2C4.4-4.6%2C11.9-4.6%2C22.3v63.4l59.4%2C30.4l-0.2%2C48.2h-29.6v-32.3l-29.7%2C14.9l0.1%2C17.2c0%2C9.1%2C1.5%2C16.5%2C4.6%2C22.2%0A%09%09c4.6%2C4.7%2C12.9%2C7%2C24.8%2C7h29.7c13.9%2C0%2C22.3-2.2%2C25.3-6.7c3-4.4%2C4.5-11.9%2C4.5-22.3l-0.2-66.2l-59.3-30V29h29.9l-0.1%2C27.9L431.9%2C41.4z%22%0A%09%09%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st1%22%20points%3D%22213.8%2C200%20292.4%2C200%20292.4%2C170.9%20243.4%2C170.9%20243.4%2C122.6%20243.4%2C100%20277.6%2C100%20277.6%2C71%20243.4%2C71%20%0A%09%09243.4%2C29%20292.4%2C29%20292.4%2C0%20213.8%2C0%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1465.3%2C0h-29.6c-7.9%2C0-14.9%2C2.9-20.8%2C8.6c-5.9%2C5.7-8.9%2C12.5-8.9%2C20.4v171h29.6v-46.3h29.6V200h29.6V29%0A%09%09c0-8.1-2.8-15-8.4-20.6C1480.8%2C2.8%2C1473.8%2C0%2C1465.3%2C0z%20M1435.7%2C124.6v-2.2V89.6V29h29.6v78.4v17.3H1435.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Dallas Mavericks: What to watch for in 2020-2021 regular-season opener vs. Suns
The Dallas Mavericks are officially back on Wednesday night. They travel to Phoenix to face the Suns in the 2020-2021 regular-season opener. Mavs star Luka Doncic is the favorite to win MVP, but the new-look Suns present a difficult first challenge for Dallas.
Phoenix added Chris Paul and Jae Crowder this offseason after an impressive run inside the Walt Disney World bubble. The Suns are looking to snap a decade-long playoff drought. The Mavericks will have to be at the top of their game to win their opener.
Here is a look at how and what to watch for in the 2020-2021 regular-season opener on Dec. 23 between the Mavs and Suns.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns regular-season opener: How to watch
Start time: 9:30 p.m. CT or 10:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: ESPN (National), Fox Sports Southwest (Dallas market), Fox Sports Arizona (Phoenix market)
Watch online: Watch ESPN (National), Fox Sports Go (Both local markets)
Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns injury updates
The Mavs have ruled out Kristaps Porzingis for the season opener. Coach Carlisle noted that he is expected to return in January from his offseason knee surgery. Dallas listed Maxi Kleber as probable with a right knee effusion on their game notes. Expect Kleber to play in the opener.
The Suns have ruled out Frank Kaminsky, Dario Saric, and Abdel Nader on the NBA’s official injury report. Chris Paul is listed as probable with an ankle injury, but fans should expect him to play.
Be sure to check Twitter for all the latest injury news just prior to tipoff.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns storyline to follow: Luka’s start
Luka Doncic is a massive reason why Dallas got three national TV games to start the 2020-2021 season. He made first-team All-NBA and finished fourth in the MVP voting a season ago. Doncic taking advantage of the massive audience could cement him as the early favorite for the league’s highest honor.
Doncic had 34 points and nine rebounds in last season’s opener against the Wizards. He also averaged 30.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists against the Suns a year ago. Expect a massive night from Luka to kick things off.
Dallas Mavericks fans will not want to miss Wednesday’s game or a moment of the action this season. Check back to The Smoking Cuban for all the latest on your favorite team too.