LOS ANGELES — After playing two games in Phoenix, the Dallas Mavericks will now play two games in a three-day span in Los Angeles against the Clippers.
Despite losing their last two, the Mavs are still seeded fourth in the Western Conference, while the Clippers are sixth.
This is a rematch of a first-round playoff matchup each of the last two seasons which the Clippers won both times. Two years ago the Clippers beat the Mavs in six games in the opening round of the playoffs, and last year the Clippers dropped the first two games of their best-of-seven series against the Mavs at home before rallying to win the series in seven games.
PREVIEW
MAVERICKS (9-6) AT LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (9-7)
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Place: STAPLES Center, Los Angeles
TV: BSSW
Radio: The Eagle, 97.1 FM; Univision 99.1 FM (Spanish)
About the Mavericks: This is the first of two games that the Mavs will play in Los Angeles against the Clippers over the next three days. In addition to this afternoon, these two teams will square off on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. CT. Tuesday’s game will be the last for the Mavs before Thanksgiving. Their next game after that will be Saturday at American Airlines Center against the Washington Wizards. . .The big question for the Mavs is whether or not Luka Doncic will be able to play today. The two-time All-Star point guard missed the past two games in Phoenix after suffering sprains to his left ankle and left knee during last Monday’s win over the Denver Nuggets. Doncic is listed as questionable for today’s game. . .Forward Maxi Kleber also is listed as questionable for today’s contest. The eight-year veteran has missed the last nine games with a left oblique strain. . .The Mavs won five of six games before losing last Tuesday in Phoenix (105-98) and this past Friday in Phoenix (112-104). The Mavs led both of those games by five points after the third quarter. But they got outscored by 12 points in the fourth quarter in the Tuesday game, and got outscored by 13 points in the fourth quarter of the Friday game. . .In the two games in Phoenix, Kristaps Porzingis collected 44 points and 20 rebounds, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 40 points, and Jalen Brunson added 36 points, 13 rebounds and 19 assists.
About the Clippers: The Clippers won eight of their last nine games before losing their last two. Paul George finished with 23 points, five rebounds and six assists in Thursday’s 120-108 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, and added 19 points, seven boards and six assists in Friday’s 94-81 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. The 81 points are the Clippers’ lowest of the season besides the 79 points they scored in a 13-point loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 27. . .George is averaging 26.3 ppg, 7.9 rebounds, 5.2 apg and two steals per game. He is supported by Reggie Jackson (17.2 ppg), Eric Bledsoe (10.4 ppg) and Luke Kennard (10.3 ppg). . .This is the first of a six-game homestand for the Clippers. In addition to the two games against the Mavs, the Clippers will host Detroit on Friday, Golden State on Nov. 28, New Orleans on Nov. 29 and Sacramento on Dec. 1 before “traveling’’ across the hall to battle the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 3. . .This is officially the Mavs’ final game in STAPLES Center before the arena’s name will change to the Crypto.com Arena on Christmas when the Lakers entertain the Brooklyn Nets. The $700 million deal is the richest naming rights in sports history. The Clippers will open their own new arena, the 18,000-seat Intuit Dome, in 2024 in nearby Inglewood. Thus, the Clippers will become the only NBA team – not counting the Golden State Warriors — without their home arena located in their city’s namesake.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
Share and comment