The Phoenix Suns hit a low point on Christmas Day, when they fell one game under .500 with a disappointing 14-point home loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
Phoenix finds itself in a much better place heading into Wednesday’s rematch against the Mavericks in Dallas.
The Suns won their sixth straight and improved to 11-3 over their last 14 games with a 115-113 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday.
Kevin Durant scored a season-high 43 points and Bradley Beal added 18 for Phoenix, which capped a 23-point comeback when Durant made a 17-foot jumper with 1.6 seconds left.
Durant has scored at least 40 points in back-to-back games. The reigning Western Conference Player of the Week shot 12-of-19 from the field in the second half against Chicago.
Phoenix is beginning its longest road trip of the season with seven games over the next 14 days. Durant said the team is heading into the challenging stretch on a high note.
The trip begins with a matchup against Dallas, which is looking to bounce back from a 119-110 loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday.
Luka Doncic recorded a triple-double with 33 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists, but the Mavericks allowed Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to score a combined 73 points.
Dallas point guard Kyrie Irving scored 23 points while playing through a right thumb sprain suffered early in the game. X-rays were negative and Irving does not expect to miss any time. He is listed as questionable for the Suns.
The Mavericks played without guards Dante Exum (right plantar fascia strain) and Seth Curry (left ankle sprain). Both are listed as questionable. Doncic (back tightness) also is questionable.
Doncic is averaging 33.6 points and had 50 in the Mavericks’ win over Phoenix last month.
Dallas coach Jason Kidd is urging his team to maintain focus after the Mavericks expressed frustration with the officiating several times during Monday’s game against Boston. Doncic picked up his eighth technical foul of the season in the loss.
