Mavericks (31-21) at Hornets (17-32)
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Place: Spectrum Center, Charlotte
TV: FSSW
Radio: ESPN, 103.3 FM, Univision, 1270 AM (Spanish)
About the Mavs: They have a little score to settle with the Hornets, who came to Dallas in early January and stole a 123-120 overtime win at American Airlines Center . . . The Mavericks also are 10-11 since late December and 2-4 in their last six . . . They are coming off the 119-118 heartbreaker at Washington Friday night when the Mavericks simply could not stop the Wizards, who won on a last-second layup by Bradley Beal. Seth Curry had 20 points for the Mavericks, but made just 6-of-18 shots. Kristaps Porzingis (11 points, 9 rebounds) had his string of three consecutive 30-10 games snapped by the Wizards . . . Two bright spots: their rebounding continues to be exemplary as they won the board game 49-39. That’s three times in the last five games they’ve had at least 10 more rebounds than the opponent. Also, they are a ridiculous 77-of-84 from the free-throw line in the past four games (91.7 percent) . . . They have won their last two visits to Charlotte, including a 38-point blowout win last season . . . On the second night of back-to-back games, the Mavericks are a respectable 5-3. They have not been swept in back-to-back games so far this season . . . After this game, the Mavericks will have 15 more road games left after the All-Star break. They have 14 home games remaining, including two next week before the break (Utah and Sacramento).
About the Hornets: While the Mavericks will playing their second game in two nights, the Hornets have been idle since Tuesday, when they lost at Houston. That was their fourth consecutive loss and they have dropped 12 of their last 13 games to fall hopelessly out of any chance of reaching the playoffs . . . They do have a potent backcourt with Devonte Graham and Terry Rozier, both of whom average right at 18 points per game. And after the way Bradley Beal (29 points) lit up the Mavericks on Friday, opposing guards no doubt are taking dead aim at a defense that has seen slippage in recent weeks . . . Graham is No. 4 in the NBA in 3-pointers made with 181. He also leads the league in biggest jump in scoring average, going from 4.7 points last season to 17.9 this season . . . However, this franchise still is reeling from the free-agent loss of Kemba Walker to the Celtics last summer . . . The Mavericks have had trouble winning close games this season, but the Hornets are 8-6 in games that have been decided by one possession . . . Their defensive rating is 28th in the league, largely because they allow opponents to shoot 48 percent from the field, also 28th in the league . . . P.J. Washington, the 12th pick in last June’s draft, is having a solid rookie season at 12.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Twitter: @ESefko
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