Ranking the top 10 games of the 2018-19 NBA schedule

10. Oct. 17, 2018 — Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks (ESPN)

Normally, a matchup between the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks wouldn’t hold much intrigue, and after the Suns were routed by 48 points in last year’s season opener, this would seem like a game to stay well away from.

However, with the consensus top-two prospects in the 2018 NBA Draft squaring off, Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic make this one worth tuning in for. After months of speculation and debate over which prospect was the better fit to go to Phoenix as the No. 1 overall pick, Ayton and Doncic will finally get their chance to say something about it.

In all seriousness, their first games as professionals won’t tell us very much about their NBA futures, whether the Suns were right to take Ayton over Doncic, or which one will wind up having the better career. But you can be guaranteed the basketball world will be watching to overreact to every single highlight play or mistake from either one.

This game is interesting for a number of other reasons — DeAndre Jordan‘s first game with the Mavs; Dirk Nowitzki making the first stop on his potential farewell tour; Trevor Ariza and Igor Kokoskov trying to make the Suns competitive again; Devin Booker‘s love for torching the Mavs late in games; the list goes on and on.

Mostly though, ROOKIE HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE!