Mavs’ Luka Doncic Rivalry With Devin Booker To Add Chapter
As the Dallas Mavericks prepare to host the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 8 at American Airlines Center, where all eyes will be on the marquee matchup between Luka Doncic and Devin Booker.
Both teams enter the game, looking to win the rivalry for each player. Dallas is fresh off a 119-99 victory over the Chicago Bulls despite missing key defenders Dereck Lively II and P.J. Washington. Currently, fifth in the Western Conference, Dallas faces a critical game against a Phoenix team that holds a slight edge in their regular-season meetings.
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Doncic and Booker share a storied rivalry dating back to 2019 when Doncic led Dallas to a win on the road, a 120-113 victory. Their most memorable matchup came in the 2022 NBA playoffs, where Doncic led Dallas to a Game 7 blowout win at Footprint Center, a 123-90 victory that still resonates with fans. Booker leads their regular-season series 11-4, but Doncic holds the playoff advantage with a 4-3 record.
Their head-to-head stats underscore Doncic’s versatility: he averages 32.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and seven assists compared to Booker’s 26.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in the matchup. Notably, the two have had multiple moments on the court, including a face-to-face exchange in March of 2023 and a memorable exchange following Dallas' Christmas Day game last season when Booker congratulated Doncic on the birth of his daughter.
Dallas’ last meeting with Phoenix exposed a need for greater bench production, as the Mavericks’ reserves managed only 4 points, six rebounds, and five assists outside of Dereck Lively's production, while Doncic carried with 40 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and one block. In contrast, Phoenix's starting lineup was dominant, led by Kevin Durant’s 31 points and Jusuf Nurkic’s 18-point, 14-rebound effort. The Suns also controlled the boards, out-rebounding Dallas 40-34 in defensive rebounds and stifling the Mavs’ second-chance scoring.
In Dallas’ recent win over Chicago, Doncic led with 27 points, 13 assists, and 7 rebounds, while Kyrie Irving added 17 points and Daniel Gafford contributed a season-high 17 points. This balanced scoring highlights Dallas’ potential, but with Lively and Washington unavailable, head coach Jason Kidd will need to adjust rotations to counter Phoenix’s deep lineup.
The Mavericks’ strong offensive rebounding against Chicago offers some optimism, but containing Booker and Durant while keeping Doncic fresh for the full 48 minutes will be vital.
