HOUSTON – The Mavericks will be heavily short-handed when they take on the Houston Rockets on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Toyota Center.
Three Mavs starters will sit out Friday’s game, including guards Luka Doncic (left quad strain) and Kyrie Irving (right heel contusion), along with rookie center Dereck Lively II (left ankle sprain). Meanwhile, reserves Dante Exum (left lower leg contusion), Josh Green (right elbow sprain) and Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation) also won’t play against the Rockets. In addition, guard Seth Curry is listed as questionable for Friday’s game with back spasms.
This will be the first game Doncic has missed this season besides the 108-94 home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 1 he sat out after his daughter was born.
Doncic is averaging 37 minutes this season, including 40.4 minutes over the past seven games. The Mavs have been dependent heavily on his play, especially with injuries to their other prime time ball handlers.
So far this season, Doncic is second in the NBA in scoring (32.7), second in three-pointers made (3.8) and fourth in assists (9.1), and he also averages team highs in rebounds (8.4) and steals (1.3). His production is of utmost important to the Mavs.
Also, because of Doncic’s skill set, he’s often double-teamed, which leads to wide open teammates he can pass the ball to.
Doncic had his streak of scoring at least 30 points in a game snapped at a team record 11 straight games during Wednesday’s 120-111 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers when he finished with 28 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. Now, the Mavs’ depth will be put to a severe test when they square off against a Houston team that’s tied for the third-best home record in the entire NBA.
*This is only a one-game road trip for the Mavs – and the opener of a back-to-back – before they return home to host the San Antonio Spurs and rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama on Saturday.
*After hosting the Mavs, the Rockets will pack their bags and head to New Orleans, where they’ll play the Pelicans on Saturday.
*The Mavs recorded just six turnovers during Wednesday’s loss to the Clippers. It marks the third time this season the Mavs have turned the ball over six or fewer times in a game.
*The Rockers are an impressive 11-2 at home this season. They had their 11-game home winning streak broken on Wednesday during a 134-127 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
*Mavs guard Tim Hardaway Jr. picked up three steals – in the third quarter – of Wednesday’s game against the Clippers. The three steals ties for the most Hardaway has recorded in a game in his career.
*Alperen Sengun leads the Rockets with 19.7 ppg, 8.9 rpg and 5.2 apg, Fred VanVleet averages 17.7 ppg and 9.0 apg, Jalen Green is averaging 17.4 ppg, Dillion Brooks is scoring at a 14.2 per game clip, and Jabari Smith Jr. averages 13.2 ppg and 8.8 rpg.
*The Mavs are tied with Minnesota for the third-best road record in the league at 9-5. Oklahoma City and Philadelphia are tied for the best road record at 8-4 apiece.
*In the loss to the Clippers, Mavs forward Derrick Jones Jr. tallied 19 points on 6-of-11 shots. It was the ninth time this season he’s scored at least 15 points. That’s the most such games of Jones’ career, snapping the eight games with 15 or more points that he scored during the 2019-20 season.
*Mavs guard Jaden Hardy poured in 16 points in the game against the Clippers. That’s his second highest scoring output of the season. The five three-pointers Hardy converted against the Clippers ties for the second-most he’s even made in a game in his career.
*The Mavs defeated the Rockets, 121-115, in Dallas on Nov. 28 behind 41 points, nine rebounds and nine assists from Doncic.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (16-11) at HOUSTON ROCKETS (13-12)
When: 7 p.m., Friday
Where: Toyota Center, Houston
TV: BSSW
Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
X: @DwainPrice
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