Nets (16-16) at Mavericks (21-12)
Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: FSSW
Radio: ESPN, 103.3 FM, Univision, 1270 AM (Spanish)
About the Mavs: If you’re looking for trends, the obvious one is not good for the Mavericks. They are just 5-6 in their last 11 games. They lost the final two games of the three-game trip they completed on Tuesday. On the bright side, the odds are with them because this team has not lost three in a row all season . . . Injuries are a concern as Tim Hardaway Jr. (left hamstring) has been ruled out and Kristaps Porzingis (knee) is listed as questionable . . . This is the start of a season-long six-game home stand, which is not necessarily great news. The Mavericks have lost three of their last four at AAC and are just 9-7 at home . . . Maxi Kleber is coming off a 14-point, 14-rebound game at Oklahoma City, and may start again if Porzingis is out . . . Shooting remains the No. 1 determining factor for them. They have lost 47 consecutive games going back several seasons when shooting less than 40 percent from the field. That includes Tuesday’s loss at Oklahoma City . . . From the department of misleading stats, the Mavericks have the third-best point differential in the league at plus-7.5 points per game. However, they are only tied for the 10th-best record in the league. That point differential is a product of three victories of more than 40 points (48, 46 and 42).
About the Nets: They are sort of biding time this season until Kevin Durant (achilles) returns for 2020-21. But they have been biding it pretty well. They have been a dangerous team and were 16-13 at Christmas. However, they have lost three in a row, including the first two on this three-game road trip that ends with the Mavs . . . It’s worth noting that the Nets have played the softest schedule in the NBA so far, based on strength of schedule by basketball-reference.com . . . They are good defensively, holding teams to 43.1 percent field-goal shooting, third best in the league. They are 12th in 3-point defense, allowing 35.1 percent . . . They rebuilt portions of their roster in the summer, signing free agent point guard Kyrie Irving, trading for Durant and also signing former Maverick DeAndre Jordan. However, Irving (28.5 points, 7.2 assists) has missed most of the season with a shoulder injury and another starter, Caris LeVert (16.8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) has missed all but nine games with a thumb injury, although he could return soon . . . The most consistent Net has been Spencer Dinwiddie, who has averaged 23 points and 6.3 assists.
Twitter: @ESefko
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