The Phoenix Suns are set to face the Dallas Mavericks tonight, meaning that the fierce rivalry between Devin Booker and Luka Dončić will be reborn.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Things have escalated between these two superstars in the past when being involved in multiple heated exchanges, but how will things fare this evening?
Brewing Beef
Back in the 2022 playoffs, Phoenix and Dallas met in the Western Conference Semifinals where the Mavericks won a seven-game series, 4-3.
During this matchup, Booker and Dončić trash talked and battled on the court, sparking the competitive fire these two have had when playing against each other.
With the Suns up 3-2 in the series following a 110-80 victory in Game 5, Dončić was not happy and voiced his displeasure of the Suns. (Video Credit: ABC15 Sports)
“Everybody acting tough when they’re up,” Dončić said as the Mavericks walked off the court and through a tunnel at Footprint Center.
“Everybody acts tough when they’re up” – Luka as the Mavericks leave the court after a 110-80 Suns win pic.twitter.com/uCh4DrSFtf
— ABC15 Sports (@abc15sports) May 11, 2022
Then on Mar. 5, 2023 during the next season, there were only a few seconds left in a 130-126 Suns win before the two collided again.
Leading 128-126 at the tail end of the fourth quarter, Kevin Durant was fouled by Dončić.
While Dončić was in disbelief of the officials call, Booker started to exchange some words with him before the two had a face-to-face confrontation. (Video Credit: ESPN)
Things got heated between Luka and Book 👀 pic.twitter.com/wT3IhISall
— ESPN (@espn) March 5, 2023
Prior to tonight, both teams split this year’s season series so far, 1-1.
The Mavericks claimed a Christmas Day victory of 128-114 in Phoenix when Dončić scored 50 points and Booker had 20.
Then when they were on the road, the Suns flipped the script by winning 132-109 on Jan. 24. The back-and-forth battle between Booker and Dončić resulted in a 46-point night from Phoenix’s star while Dončić posted 34.
Also during the last game, a Suns fan was ejected for mocking Dončić. As a response, Booker asked for the fan’s information postgame.
Moving On?
When appearing on The Old Man & The Three podcast earlier this month, Dončić spoke to co-host J.J. Redick about where things currently stand on his relationship with Booker.
“It’s good,” Dončić said. “Last time we played, we didn’t fight. It wasn’t me and him [Booker]. I told for one time, it’s not us.”
Luka Doncic on his relationship with Devin Booker:
“It’s good. Last time we played we didn’t fight, it wasn’t me and him. I told him for one time it’s not us”
— CantGuardBook (@CGBBURNER) February 9, 2024
Taking in the 2024 NBA All-Star festivities and what it had to offer, Booker and Dončić were cordial while being teammates on the Western Conference team.
Further shocking the basketball world, fans raised their eyebrows when both players recently followed each other on Instagram, developing the perceived notion that Booker and Dončić may have made amends.
Devin Booker and Luka Doncic have followed each other on instagram🤔👀 pic.twitter.com/QiQsY8QISf
— CantGuardBook (@CGBBURNER) February 22, 2024
It will be interesting to see if Booker and Dončić will display any animosity towards one another in their final meeting of the regular season tonight.
Tip-off between the Suns (33-22) and Mavericks (32-23) commences in Dallas at 5:30 p.m. MST.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
