The Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for another showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, tipping off at 2:30 p.m. CST at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
The last encounter between these two saw the Cavs dominate with a 138-105 victory, thanks to a stellar performance by Evan Mobley, who dropped 29 points on an impressive 12-15 shooting. On the Mavericks' side, Cooper Flagg shone with 25 points, breaking out of an injury slump with a fantastic third quarter.
The Mavericks snapped an eight-game losing streak with a win against Memphis but couldn't maintain the momentum against Cleveland. As for the Cavs, a win on Sunday would tie their longest streak since February 20th. The team has been finding its rhythm since acquiring James Harden, who’s been meshing well with his new teammates, setting the stage for a promising playoff run.
Friday's game served as a strategic warm-up for Cleveland, as they fine-tuned their playoff rotation and built chemistry with Harden. They'll be even stronger on Sunday, with Jarrett Allen and Max Strus returning from injuries.
The Mavericks struggled on defense, particularly in the paint, where they were missing key players like PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Moussa Cisse. This left them vulnerable to Cleveland’s relentless rim attacks.
Donovan Mitchell had a field day, hitting 10 of 12 two-pointers, while Harden and Mobley seemed to finally click in their pick-and-roll plays. Harden’s timing and Mobley’s aggressive rolls led to easy scores, showcasing a developing synergy.
Jarrett Allen, who complements Harden's style well, is expected to bring his A-game. Allen has averaged 21.5 points per game with Harden, boosting his season average. If the Mavericks' defense remains porous, expect Harden to experiment with Allen and Mobley’s talents, mixing up the playbook to exploit Dallas’ weaknesses.
Max Strus is also back in action. He had a memorable game against Dallas last year, hitting five threes in the final minutes, including a spectacular game-winner. Strus joins a wing lineup that was firing on all cylinders Friday, with Keon Ellis and Jaylon Tyson both contributing from beyond the arc.
For the Mavericks, despite Flagg’s strong second half and Naji Marshall’s solid return, turnovers were a major issue. They handed the ball over 17 times, gifting the Cavs 13 points in the second quarter alone. Although Ryan Nembhard’s assist-to-turnover ratio was impressive, the Mavericks’ backcourt struggled to contain Harden and Mitchell.
Dallas might try different lineups on Sunday, but it could still be a tough outing against a potent Cavs squad. The focus for the Mavericks might shift to player development, giving more minutes to forwards like Thomas Bryant and Nae’Qwan Tomlin, who were perfect on two-point attempts.
While winning remains the goal, fans might also be keeping an eye on the draft lottery standings. If you’re tuning in, you can catch the game on NBA TV, KFAA Channel 29, MAVS TV (streaming), or listen on 97.1FM KEGL (English) and 99.1FM KFZO (Spanish).