ATLANTA HAWKS (11-12) AT MAVERICKS (11-14)
Time: 6:30 p.m., Wednesday
Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: FSSW, ESPN
Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM; Univision 1270 AM (Spanish)
About the Mavericks: For the second Wednesday in a row, the Mavs and Hawks will meet on the hardwood. Last week, the Mavs threw everything but a wet blanket at Trae Young while limiting him to just 21 points during a 122-116 victory. . .It’s another high profile matchup between Luka Doncic and Young, who were traded for each other on draft night in 2018. . .This is the fourth of a monster seven-game homestand for the Mavs, and the Mavs are 2-1 so far. Last Saturday the Mavs edged the Golden State Warriors, 134-132, and this past Monday they hung on to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 127-122. . .The Mavs have won three of their past four games and will be trying to win three in a row for the first time since they won four straight games – against Houston, Denver, Orlando and Charlotte – from Jan. 4-13. . .Luka Doncic collected 27 points, eight rebounds and 14 assists in last week’s victory over the Hawks. Also in that game, Kristaps Porzingis finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 22 points and converted 5-of-10 baskets from 3-point range. . .In the win over Minnesota, Porzingis tallied a season-high tying 27 points, snatched a season-high tying 13 rebounds and blocked a season-high six shots – one shy of his career high. Doncic (26 points, eight boards) and Hardaway (24 points, 29 minutes) also contributed mightily to the win over the Timberwolves.
About the Hawks: Atlanta is tied with the Charlotte Hornets for first place in the Southeast Division. But the Hornets (.480 percent) are percentage points ahead of the Hawks (.478 percent). . .The Hawks are 5-5 on the road. . .This is only a one-game trip for the Hawks, who start a two-game homestand on Friday against the San Antonio Spurs. . .The Hawks have lost four of their last six games. . .Atlanta hasn’t played since it won at home over the Toronto Raptors, 132-121, on Saturday. In that game the Hawks were led by Trae Young (28 points, 13 assists), Clint Capela (23 points, 16 rebounds, four blocks), John Collins (19 points, seven rebounds, three blocks) and Kevin Huerter (19 points, 5-of-8 three-pointers). The Hawks scored 66 points in each half of that game. . .During last week’s loss to the Mavs, Collins (35 points, 12 rebounds) and Huerter (21 points, 10 assists) were the primary contributors for the Hawks. . .Young is averaging 26.7 ppg and 9.2 apg, Collins averages 17.8 ppg and 7.8 rpg, Capela is averaging 13.7 ppg, 14.6 rpg and 2.4 bpg, and Hunter averages 12.3 ppg. . .The Hawks opened the season with three consecutive victories, and shortly thereafter dropped six of seven games. They followed that up by winning five of seven games, and then dropped three straight before defeating the Raptors.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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