PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns announce the following starting lineup against the Dallas Mavericks:

Tyus Jones
Devin Booker
Ryan Dunn
Kevin Durant
Yusuf Nurkic

Suns will not be able to include Bradley Beal in their squad tonight due to his elbow injury. Dunn, Phoenix’s first-round pick, will get the nod.

Jones, Booker, Durant and Nurkic are the Suns’ other typical starters.

Fresh off a loss in which Phoenix led by 22 points, Suns coach Mike Budenholzer says the offense has plenty of room for improvement.

“Yes, I think that’s true, and we’re trying to get more from the beginning and less from the end. This is basketball, it’s never easy, it’s never pretty and it’s never perfect. Sometimes I think that when our defense is good, we are no different from other teams. I think about this many times,” Budenholzer said.

“It helps our offense, it helps us get into position, get into space and move quickly against a defense that isn’t prepared. I think if we get the ball out of the net or commit a lot of fouls, we’ll do that.” It’s a sport that has both ends. I have a big impact on the other end, and sometimes we’re not that good as we move into the second and third acts and screens and apps. “When we are stagnant and not as good as we need to be, we have room for improvement in those things we have.”

The Suns are up 1-1 and face a Mavericks team that enters tonight at 1-0.

“Obviously, I have a lot of respect for Klay (Thompson) and his ability to shoot and warm up and shoot quick off the dribble, so I think you have that awareness of where he is, but I think (Luka) Dončić and (Kyrie) also know that.” I think Irving will get the ball. I’m sure that’s their formula, try to get you out of the spotlight, disconnect (Klay) Thompson, when you have two great players that you know can play defense, so you have to be able to do everything against them,” Budenholzer said of Dallas.

Opening tip is at 19:00.

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