Devin Booker, Chris Paul Lead Suns to Opening Win vs. Luka Doncic, Mavericks
Dec 24, 2020
Dallas Mavericks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. drives past Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The new era of Phoenix Suns basketball started off on the right foot.
Phoenix defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106-102 on Wednesday at Phoenix Suns Arena to begin the 2020-21 season with a win over a fellow Western Conference contender. Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges led the way for the victors, who played their first game with Chris Paul and Devin Booker together in the backcourt.
Dallas was unable to capitalize on its early hype and fell despite a solid showing from Luka Doncic.
There are few more intriguing storylines than what the Suns will look like this season.
After all, they went 8-0 in the Walt Disney World Resort bubble just to add a 10-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer in Paul and a veteran presence in Jae Crowder to a young core that already featured Booker and Deandre Ayton. Anything short of their first playoff appearance since the 2009-10 season would be a massive disappointment.
Booker looked ready to lead the team in the early going when he knocked down multiple shots from the outside, but it was Mikal Bridges who provided much of the initial spark for the Suns as they built a lead.
Dallas had to shift defenders toward the Booker and Paul combination, which is something the Suns will face throughout the season. They will need someone to hit the resultant open shots, and Bridges did just that for extended stretches Wednesday.
The Villanova product also hit a key triple in the final minute of the third quarter all while he was also tasked with hounding Doncic and disrupting the MVP candidate's path to the basket on the defensive side.
The balanced effort also included Cameron Johnson, Cameron Payne and Langston Galloway providing a spark off the bench with their outside shooting and overall athleticism. Paul didn't have to do too much with so many other contributors, which is another important theme for Phoenix this season as it attempts to keep the veteran relatively fresh for a playoff push.
Six Suns finished in double figures, yet it was the star guards who made the plays in crunch time.
Paul hit arguably the biggest shot of the game with a mid-range pull-up to go up three in the final two minutes, while Booker hit a key mid-range shot of his own to go with clutch free throws.
Doncic's Big Scoring Night Not Enough for Mavs
Dallas will be appointment viewing for much of the season for one reason.
Doncic took the league by storm as the 2018-19 Rookie of the Year and quickly established himself as one of the top players in the league as a First Team All-NBA selection in his second season. An MVP is well within reach in 2020-21 if he continues on his current path.
He was rusty at first and missed his first six shots but still exploited angles off the bounce, battled for boards and didn't hesitate to hit his open teammates when Phoenix collapsed on his methodical penetration.
Even though Tim Hardaway Jr. and Josh Richardson got open looks from deep with Doncic creating, the visitors were clearly missing Kristaps Porzingis' presence as they fell behind. The Suns could consistently shift additional defenders Doncic's way to cut off his driving lanes and open looks, and nobody else on the floor was capable of going into full takeover mode.
The result was a six-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter as the offense struggled to generate consistency against Phoenix's length and quickness.
That's when Jalen Brunson provided that second option that was missing for much of the game, creating shots off the bounce and hitting from mid-range. He scored all 12 of his points in the fourth quarter and helped the Mavericks close the deficit and set up a tight finish.
Still, they didn't have enough firepower to close out the deeper Suns down the stretch, as Doncic was the only player on his team to score more than 12.
What's Next?
The Mavericks are at the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, while the Suns are at the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.
Lakers' LeBron James Said He Turned Ankle 'Pretty Good' vs. Clippers, Will Be OK
Dec 23, 2020
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) calls a play against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Phoenix, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
"I turned it pretty good, but I don't think it's going to stop me from playing on Friday," James told reporters. "So, have a couple days—you know how I am about treatment—so I'll do that around the clock, and I think I should be fine by then."
LeBron quipped that he’ll drink some wine tonight, which will go directly to his ankle, and make it better.
In reality, he’ll “be around the clock” treating it as he does any injury. “I’ll be fine,” he added.
He explained that treatment on the ankle will continue pretty much nonstop until the Mavs matchup.
"But I'll be around the clock," James said. "I'll wake up [Wednesday] morning before I leave the house, and also I'll get some more treatment at the facility and just continue to do that. Like I said, we have a couple days, so I'll be fine."
The Lakers are likely to increase the amount of rest James and Anthony Davis receive during the first half of the regular season since they're facing a short turnaround after clinching the title Oct. 11 with a Game 6 triumph over the Miami Heat.
Although the NBArelaxed its policiesrelated to rest because of the short offseason for some playoff teams, the changes don't include nationally televised games, and the league would obviously want its longtime gold standard on the court for the Christmas broadcast, if possible.
Tip off against Dallas is set for Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
That's followed by four games in six days, starting with a back-to-back set against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Portland Trail Blazers beginning Sunday. It wouldn't be a surprise to see James sit out at least one of those games while his ankle remains tender.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYBHobtKpK4
L.A. also has three back-to-back sets on its schedule for January as the NBA races to get its 72-game regular season complete by mid-May so it can get back toward its standard schedule and timeline next season.
Expect James to receive plenty of added rest, either through DNPs or reduced minutes, to make sure he's ready to roll when the playoffs arrive.
The 1 NBA Game to Watch Every Night for the Rest of 2020
Dec 22, 2020
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) and Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard (2) chase the ball during an NBA basketball game between Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019, in Los Angeles. The Clippers won 111-106. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The new NBA season begins Tuesday night, a little more than two months after the conclusion of the Orlando bubble. Highlights of opening week include a TNT doubleheader tonight and five games on Christmas Day.
The 2020-21 schedule is 72 games, with each team back in its home arena (except the Raptors—more on them later). The presence and number of fans will be determined by teams and cities throughout the season.
We want to be your guide for the next several nights as your favorite teams and players return to the court. We've selected the single game every day that will be most worth your time to watch, beginning tonight and ending New Year's Eve.
Many games below will be on national television, and others will be on NBA League Pass. You can watch live games all season with NBA League Pass on B/R Live, including a free preview week running through Dec. 29. Learn more here.
Note: All tipoff times Eastern
Tuesday, Dec. 22: Clippers at Lakers | 10 p.m. on TNT
This choice was a slam dunk: The defending champions open their season back in Los Angeles against their intracity rival.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis signed contract extensions in the offseason, and the Lakers added significantly to their supporting cast. Dennis Schroder, Wesley Matthews and Marc Gasol will all play key minutes in the rotation. But their biggest move hits right at the heart of this rivalry: Reigning Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell has switched allegiances, jumping from the Clippers' red and blue into the famous purple and gold.
LeBron & AD are one of the most unstoppable duos when running the floor together 💯 https://t.co/a705j6V3aF
That hurdle is just one more challenge the Clippers will have to overcome after crashing out of the playoffs in the bubble. Kawhi Leonard is back, Paul George just signed a large extension, and, in another twist to the rivalry, Ty Lue, James' former coach in Cleveland, now leads the Clippers. With Patrick Beverly and Lou Williams back as well, the Clips still look great on paper. But with the way both teams finished last season, we learned once again that teams are ultimately judged on playoff results, not regular-season wins or hype.
The battle for L.A. is the second half of TNT's opening-night doubleheader. It will be preceded by Warriors vs. Nets in Kevin Durant's first official game back from injury and against his former team. And it will be followed by the season's first Inside the NBA, with Ernie, Kenny, Shaq and Charles.
Wednesday, Dec. 23: Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns | 10:30 p.m. on ESPN
What does Luka Doncic do for an encore? The Mavs star won Rookie of the Year and then jumped to a first-team All-NBA selection in his second season. He'll have a heavier load on his shoulders to start the season, with running mate Kristaps Porzingis recovering from a torn right meniscus sustained in the playoffs. Dallas had the highest offensive rating in the league last season, so we know it'll be entertaining.
And it will start with a fun opener against a young and exciting Suns team, the darlings of the bubble after winning all eight games there and narrowly missing the play-in series. Devin Booker was a breakout star in Orlando.
He'll be joined this season by veteran Chris Paul, giving Phoenix one of the best backcourts in the NBA. Wednesday will be Paul's team debut. He'll bring some leadership to a youthful roster, much like he did in guiding the Thunder to a surprise playoff appearance last year.
Friday, Dec. 25: Golden State Warriors at Milwaukee Bucks | 2:30 p.m. on ABC
NBA fans are spoiled this week, with the marquee games of opening night and Christmas Day only three days apart. While the Christmas slate is awesome from top to bottom (see below), we had to pick Warriors-Bucks, especially after back-to-back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo signed his supermax extension with Milwaukee last week, the largest contract in NBA history.
Christmas will be the Greek Freak's first home game after reaching the deal. And the fact that it comes against Golden State, a team long rumored to be a 2021 free-agent destination for him, is chef's kiss.
Speaking of the Warriors, they're back after a forgettable run last season defined by injuries. Klay Thompson will unfortunately miss another year with an Achilles injury, but Steph Curry returns, and we'll get to see how he, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and No. 2 overall draft pick James Wiseman work on the floor together.
It will be interesting to see if and how they're able to regain the swagger and confidence that helped them make five straight NBA Finals appearances. Christmas against the Bucks will be a great early indicator.
Saturday, Dec. 26: Atlanta Hawks at Memphis Grizzlies | 5 p.m. on NBA TV
This matchup is another easy sell: Trae Young vs. Ja Morant.
The reigning Rookie of the Year and the Grizzlies nearly made the leap from lottery to the playoffs last year, falling to Portland in the play-in series. Memphis is still a young team in the supercompetitive West. Morant and his supporting cast—Jaren Jackson Jr., Dillon Brooks, Jonas Valanciunas—will need to take the next step in order to reach the play-in round again or finish high enough to avoid it completely.
Atlanta finds itself in a similar position trying to reach that next level in year three with Young. The Hawks played at one of the fastest paces in the league but were among the worst shooting 3-pointers and on defense, which was too much to overcome even with Young earning an All-Star appearance and John Collins averaging 20 and 10.
There are two pieces of good news for Hawks fans. The team addressed those deficiencies with free-agent signings Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, Rajon Rondo and Kris Dunn. They play in the East, where, although it's gotten deeper in recent seasons, it still likely won't require a team to be above (or even at) .500 to qualify for the playoffs. So, like Memphis, Atlanta will have higher expectations for this season but will also be learning on the fly on how to reach them.
Sunday, Dec. 27: Brooklyn Nets at Charlotte Hornets | 7 p.m. on NBA TV
This game will be just Durant's third since he injured his Achilles, signed with the Nets and sat out last season while recovering. Regardless of any rooting interest, it's great having Durant back healthy and getting buckets.
Also, Brooklyn is going to be fascinating. There is Durant's return, the Kyrie Irving experience, Steve Nash's debut season as a head coach, and the fact that the Nets were actually pretty good last season when both stars were out of the lineup. Brooklyn might not have a dull moment all year, for better or worse.
There is a lot of upside in Charlotte, which signed Gordon Hayward, drafted LaMelo Ball and return "maybe should have won Most Improved Player" Devonte' Graham. Ball and Graham will be an energized backcourt to pair with the high-flying Miles Bridges for a core that should have chairman Michael Jordan excited. Charlotte finished 10th last season and would qualify for the play-in series at that spot this year in a realistic expectation in the East.
Monday, Dec. 28: Houston Rockets at Denver Nuggets | 9 p.m. on NBA League Pass (stream free here)
Is James Harden still on the Rockets? Will James Harden be on the Rockets for this game next Monday?
The Beard's apparent insistence on getting out of Houston has been one of the most dramatic sagas of this short offseason, one that also included his team making the blockbuster Russell Westbrook-for-John Wall trade. Regardless of how things shake out with Harden, the Rockets reunited college teammates and friends Wall and DeMarcus Cousins and added rising star Christian Wood. Houston might be one of those teams you can't take your eyes off.
On the other side, Denver seems poised to improve upon its bubble breakthrough, when Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic put up some of the best performances of their careers. The Nuggets reached the conference finals after becoming the first NBA team to come back from two 3-1 series deficits in the playoffs. They return their entire core and look like they're about to unleash Bol Bol, who along with Jokic give them two 7-footers with do-it-all skill sets, which seems unfair.
If Harden sticks with Houston, this game could be a high-scoring, back-and-forth shootout. Sign us up.
Tuesday, Dec. 29: Toronto Raptors at Philadelphia 76ers | 7 p.m. on NBA League Pass (stream free here)
The Doc Rivers era begins in Philadelphia, where he will be tasked with taking the duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons to the next level. The Sixers underachieved last season and were swept in the first round by the Celtics, leading to the Rivers hire. Philadelphia added some much-needed shooting help for Simmons and Embiid, bringing in Seth Curry and Danny Green. This matchup against the Raptors will be a good first-week measuring stick.
And Toronto will be in a unique position throughout the season. The 2019 champs will play their home games in Tampa, Florida, because of Canada's pandemic restrictions on travel into and out of the country. The Raptors re-signed Fred VanVleet but lost veteran big men Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol in free agency, but just like after the departure of Kawhi Leonard, you cannot dismiss this squad. Reigning Coach of the Year Nick Nurse and point guard Kyle Lowry provide excellent leadership. While the Raptors don't have a ton of flash, they play soundly on both ends and are a great team to watch simply to see good basketball.
Wednesday, Dec. 30: Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat | 7:30 p.m. on NBA TV
Milwaukee and Miami meet after the Heat upset the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last season. This game will be the second between these teams in as many nights, an example of the NBA's new "series scheduling" this year to help reduce travel. Milwaukee will likely be looking to make an early statement against Miami to get some revenge for those playoff defeats.
Jimmy Buckets: The most interesting man in the league.
For the Heat, everything runs through Jimmy Butler. After winning the East last year and making the Finals, Miami probably won't sneak up on anyone sort of like they did in the bubble. The emergence of Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro to go along with veterans Goran Dragic, Andre Iguodala, and the newly signed Avery Bradley give the Heat a real chance to return to the Finals once again under coach Erik Spoelstra.
Thursday, Dec. 31: New Orleans Pelicans at Oklahoma City Thunder | 8 p.m. on NBA League Pass (stream here)
You all didn't think we would get through this guide without Zion, right?
The phenom enters his second season fully healthy and without a minutes restriction, setting up New Orleans to take advantage of its talented young core—Williamson, Lonzo Ball and 2019-20 Most Improved Player Brandon Ingram—despite the trade of Jrue Holiday. The Pelicans also have a new coach in charge, Stan Van Gundy, and playoff expectations.
The Holiday trade also sent Steven Adams from the Thunder to the Pelicans, so he'll make his first return to OKC in this game. It's easy to say that Oklahoma City has gone into a full rebuild after trading Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Chris Paul and Adams in the past two offseasons.
But even with their meme-worthy amount of first-round picks over the next few years, they're not tanking (at least not yet). OKC has a gem in shooting guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to go with breakout guard Lu Dort and veterans George Hill and Al Horford. Another playoff run will be tough in the West, but this team, especially SGA, will be fun to watch and develop.
The NBA is back, and with it comes a new batch of predictions. Bleacher Report asked our best basketball minds to place their votes for every major award this season from MVP to ...
2021 NBA MVP Odds: Luka Doncic, Giannis, Anthony Davis Early Betting Favorites
Dec 15, 2020
Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates his game-winning three-point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during overtime of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)
There will be a new MVP in the NBA this season. Well, at least if oddsmakers are to be trusted.
FanDuel currently has Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic (+410) as the favorite to win the 2020-21 MVP award with two-time defending winner Giannis Antetokounmpo a close second (+480). Those two are the prohibitive favorites, followed by a slew of other star players:
Leonard looks like a sneakily strong play, at least initially, though his history of load management to remain healthy throughout the regular season hurts his chances. Likewise for Embiid, though it's probably too ambitious to expect him to be in the MVP running regardless.
Durant coming back from a ruptured Achilles makes him a risk, as does James likely managing his workload during the regular season. No one knows where Harden will end up playing his whole season or how happy he'll be.
Davis and Curry are always threats to win the award, though if Doncic makes another leap like he did last year (28.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 8.8 APG, 1.0 SPG), it will be a moot point.
Consider that and some voter fatigue regarding the Greek Freak after two straight MVPs, and it's easy to see why Doncic is the early favorite.
Mavs' Luka Doncic Comments on People Body-Shaming Him on Twitter
Dec 15, 2020
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic reacts during the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Luka Doncic does not appear bothered by fans' comments that he's in less-than-ideal shape heading into the 2020-21 season.
"I mean, people on Twitter say every stuff," Doncic told reporters Monday. "But, it's true I'm not in my best shape. I will get there for sure. But, you know, I've never been a muscular guy, so what can I say?"
Doncic has been the subject of body shaming by some on Twitter, who pointed out the Dallas Mavericks star appeared less slender than when he last played in August.
Concerns over Doncic's commitment to fitness off the court are nothing new. His lack of muscle definition drew some concern during the predraft process in 2018, and his trainer called him out in June ahead of the NBA restart.
None of this, of course, has stopped Doncic from becoming one of the most promising young stars in the NBA. While he appeared to wear down a bit as his rookie season progressed, that was not the case in 2019-20; Doncic's numbers showed no noticeable dip before the season was halted because of COVID-19 or after the return in the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida.
This may be a good lesson that not every NBA player needs to be a chiseled Greek god to be effective.
Luka Doncic Tipped to Win MVP over Giannis, Jokic, Lillard in NBA Survey
Dec 14, 2020
Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates his game-winning three-point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during overtime of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)
The NBA hasn't seen a player collect three straight MVPs since Larry Bird in 1986. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo might be an underdog in the MVP race despite lifting the trophy in 2019 and 2020.
ESPN's Tim Bontemps canvassed a group of eight NBA scouts and executives. Four selected Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic to win MVP, while Antetokounmpo only garnered a solitary vote. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic got two votes, and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard rounded out the field with one vote.
Voter fatigue is a real thing; otherwise, LeBron James and Michael Jordan would probably have more than nine MVPs before them.
Antetokounmpo fading from the MVP conversation a bit may not be a bad thing for the Bucks, either, because it could signal he's getting more support from Khris Middleton and the recently arrived Jrue Holiday.
Calling the Mavericks a one-man show wouldn't accurately reflect on the situation in Dallas, but the team figures to be centered around Doncic more than how Milwaukee will be handling Giannis.
"It's hard to see Giannis winning three in a row," one scout from the Western Conference said to Bontemps. "And I think there's more of an opportunity for Luka to kind of put on an MVP show and do more on an individual basis."
Doncic had the numbers to be MVP in 2020, averaging 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists while shooting 46.3 percent from the field. The Mavericks' record prior to the NBA restart (40-27) made it tough for him to break through, though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_AmP0HIyK8
Should Dallas improve, Doncic will vault to the top of the field.
Jokic finished ninth in thevoting, so he'd need to outshine quite a few players to be recognized. The 25-year-old will also need to buck recent history.
Centers once dominated the league, something reflected in theMVP winners. Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Moses Malone wound up on top 18 combined times from 1956-83. Dave Cowens, Bill Walton and Willis Reed were among the other big men to be honored.
Then NBA strategy shifted with the success of Bird, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson and the implementation of the three-pointer. Shaquille O'Neal is the last center to win MVP, and that was all the way back in 2000.
Sooner or later, the position will be represented on the MVP podium as centers adjust to the current trends. Jokic makes more sense than any other active player to end that 20-year drought.
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