Mavs-Rockets preview: Dončić good to go as upstart rivals visit AAC

The news about Luka Dončić was as good as the Mavericks could have hoped for on Monday and he’s in line to play Tuesday against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Center.

The MRI on his left wrist revealed a sprain, opening the door for him to play as he has always been blessed with a high pain threshold.

So the high-scoring, do-everything point guard will be available for the Mavericks’ final In-Season Tournament game, which will be their final participation in the event. They are 1-2 so far and have been eliminated from contention for the quarterfinals.

Instead, they will have two games added to their schedule next week while the top eight teams decide who will win the NBA’s first trophy to be awarded during the season.

But first, they will mix it up with the Rockets, who are somewhat surprisingly playing above .500 a month into the season at 8-6. This also is the first of three consecutive home games for the Mavericks, who played 10 of their first 16 on the road.

That they went 10-6 in those games was impressive.

“We’re in a good place,” coach Jason Kidd said after Monday’s practice. “We’ve had a lot of games on the road. So far, we’ve played well on the road.

“Now we got to protect home. We have to play a little better at home. But we’ve been out on the road a lot of late. Hopefully here in the next 10, 12 days we’re home to protect home court.”

Starting off with the Rockets won’t be as simple as it once was. As Kidd said, “they’re not the Houston of old.”

Indeed, they are not. They have been among the top five in defensive rating most of the season under new coach Ime Udoka. And they no longer heave three-pointers with reckless abandon.

“They’re scrappy, man,” said Tim Hardaway Jr. “They play hard, play aggressive and are playing defense. Most importantly, I feel like they have an identity now with a new coaching staff and veterans that can help the young guys out.”

Udoka, the former Boston coach, has the Rockets prospering after they added veterans Fred Van Vleet, Dillon Brooks and Jeff Green in the offseason.

They have become leaders for a still-young core built around Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green and Jabari Smith, all of whom are 21 or younger and firmly in the Rockets’ starting lineup.

“You look at Ime, one of the best coaches in this league, but the one thing he’s carried over from Boston is the defense,” Kidd said. “They get after it. They’re a team that defends, likes to defend. And with Freddie as their leader, he sets the tone on both ends.

“They compete on both ends. Ime has definitely given these guys a lot of confidence. But they got guys over there that have been on winning teams, so they’ve helped these younger guys understand what it means to work and to win.”

Here’s what else to watch for when the Rockets visit AAC on Tuesday:

• Opponents are scoring only 104.5 points against the Rockets, the lowest average in the league. They also are No. 2 in the league in three-point percentage allowed (32.2 percent) and third in overall field-goal percentage defense (43.7 percent).
• Sengun, in his third season, has blossomed by averaging 20.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.
• The Rockets will be without veteran Victor Oladipo (knee) and prized rookie Amen Thompson (ankle).
• The Mavericks have played only one home game since Nov. 10 and the schedule finally caught up with them as they have lost three of their last four . But they still shoot and make more three-pointers than anybody else in the NBA. And with a couple days rest and three home games coming up, they are looking to stop their current trend before it gets any worse.
• They will be without Maxi Kleber (toe), but Kidd said on Monday that Dereck Lively II (back) was able to practice on Monday and is being listed as questionable leading up to Tuesday’s game.

HOUSTON ROCKETS (8-6) at MAVERICKS (10-6)

• When, where: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, American Airlines Center, Dallas.
• TV: Bally Sports Southwest.
• Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish).