The NBA season seems like eternity, except maybe longer.
And then you look up and only 30 games remain in the regular season.
The Mavericks have reached that point and while the stretch drive might not officially begin until after the All-Star break, they are blessed with a real opportunity to build some serious momentum in the final three games before the weeklong respite begins.
They have won three consecutive games – all on the road – and have a chance for their third four-game win streak of the season (they have yet to win five in a row) on Saturday afternoon (2 p.m.) against Oklahoma City.
They have two new big men in P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, acquired Thursday just before the trade deadline. Gone are Seth Curry, Grant Williams and Richaun Holmes.
These next three games will be interesting classroom studies for coach Jason Kidd, who knows that this season is on the downhill side and there’s no time to waste for a team that will need to incorporate two new rotation players (and maybe more, given that the buyout market opens soon).
Kidd wants everybody to be patient. But the Mavericks have a great opportunity in these games before the All-Star break. After the Thunder, they get bottom-feeders Washington (Gafford’s old team) and San Antonio.
The chance for a lengthy win streak before the league resumes after the break would be a huge boost for a team that has muddled along for the last two-plus months.
First things first, they must tackle the Thunder, who have a crazy-young roster, but one that is ultra-talented, led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Speaking of which, here’s a few things to watch for in the matinee matchup:
- This should provide a wonderful MVP-caliber treat for fans. The aforementioned Gilgeous-Alexander has been an absolute beast for a team with one of the best records in the league. That’s the definition of an MVP candidate. The 6-6 guard averages 31.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game. But those numbers all are lower than what Luka Dončić has. It’s the Thunder’s glittery record that separates the two. But both, along with Denver’s Nikola Jokic, are on the short list of MVP contenders now that Joel Embiid is going to miss extended time.
- In any other year, Thunder center Chet Holmgren would be a front-running rookie of the year candidate. But Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio has a firm grip on that distinction. Still, Holmgren is averaging 16.9 points and 7.5 rebounds. He’s also a dangerous three-point threat (39 percent).
- Richardson High School product Cason Wallace was the 10th overall pick in last summer’s draft by the Mavericks. He was the centerpiece of the trade that got Dereck Lively II and O-Max Prosper with the 12th and 24th picks, respectively. The Mavericks are thrilled with Lively. But Wallace has been very good for the Thunder, too, averaging 6.7 points in 21 minutes per game and shooting 41.7 percent from three-point land.
- The Thunder have been idle since Tuesday’s loss at Utah, but they had won three in a row at home before that.
- The Mavericks have been terrific since the return of Kyrie Irving. In the three victories on the trip Eastward, Irving averaged 25 points and 6.3 assists while shooting 32-of-58 (55.2 percent) from the field.
- In those three games, Dončić averaged 31 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists. He is leading the NBA in scoring among players with enough games to qualify at 34.6 points per game.
- Both Washington and Gafford are expected to suit up. The Mavericks were without center Dereck Lively II (nose) and guard Dante Exum (knee) on the road trip. Their status is up in the air for Saturday’s game.
- The Thunder are favored by 1.5 points and the over/under is 240.5 points.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (35-16) at MAVERICKS (29-23)
- When/where: 2 p.m. Saturday, American Airlines Center, Dallas.
- TV: Bally’s Sports Southwest, NBA TV.
- Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish).
X: @ESefko
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