Dallas @ Phoenix preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 9, 2019 ) Phoenix 109, Dallas 120

Luka Doncic was finally slowed down a bit in his last outing as the Dallas Mavericks saw their five-game winning streak come to an end. Doncic and the Mavericks will try to get back into the win column Friday when they open a three-game road trip at the Phoenix Suns.

The 20-year-old Doncic was limited to 22 points and six assists -- both lows for the month of November -- in Tuesday's 114-99 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers after he had produced at least 30 points and 10 assists in his previous four outings. "They're big, they're strong, they're highly skilled," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle told reporters after his team was held under 100 points for the first time this season. "They pick you up full court and they hound you. This is a game we've got to learn from and do better next time." Dallas should be able to find its offense against the Suns, who gave up 140 points in a home loss to Washington on Wednesday and have lost five of six overall. Devin Booker led eight Phoenix players in double figures with 27 points as his team lost its third in a row at home.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (11-6): Doncic missed all eight of his 3-pointers in Tuesday's loss, failing to convert from beyond the arc for the first time this season. Fellow star Kristaps Porzingis didn't help much by shooting 4-for-13 from the floor, although he did reach double figures in rebounding for the sixth time in seven games. "They're looking to win a championship; they played like it was a playoff game," Porzingis told reporters of the Clippers. "They played aggressively and they showed us that we have to learn how to play these games. We have to bring that same intensity."

ABOUT THE SUNS (8-9): Phoenix looked early on as if it had the right mix to end a nine-year playoff drought, but the recent slump has prompted some of the same old questions to resurface. "I told our guys this is a major test for us, of our character, integrity and togetherness," coach Monty Williams told reporters Wednesday. "About a week and a half ago everybody was excited and there was a buzz, and that's died down. Now we have to stand up and be good teammates and do all the stuff we talk about when we're in practice, and I believe we will." The team did get point gaurd Ricky Rubio back from a three-game absense Wednesday and he contributed 18 points and four assists in 25 minutes.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Doncic leads the NBA with seven triple-doubles but has gone a season-high three straight games without one.

2. Suns C Aron Baynes (hip) has missed five games in a row and is day-to-day.

3. The teams split four meetings last season.

PREDICTION: Mavericks 120, Suns 116