CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (10-10) at MAVERICKS (10-8)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas.
TV: Bally Sports Southwest.
Radio: The Eagle 97.1 FM; Univision Zona MX 99.1 FM (Spanish)
About the Mavericks: There have been no easier pickings of late for the Mavericks than the Cavaliers. Dallas has won six consecutive meetings – and by an average of 21.2 points . . . They are hoping for the return of guard Jalen Brunson, who missed Saturday’s loss to Washington with a left foot bruise. Brunson was able to practice on Sunday without limitations, coach Jason Kidd said. “We’ll see how he feels.” Kidd said. “I thought he did great playing, so we’ll see how he feels tomorrow and see if he can go.” . . . The Mavs are coming off one of their worst defensive games of the season, giving up 41 points in the first quarter and 120 for the game in the loss to the Wizards. “That’s not who we are,” Kidd said. “We are a work in progress – working through that, we’re talking about it. It’s just understanding each other’s responsibility as a team defense. It’s not just one-on-one. In this league, if you play one-on-one, you’re going to give up more than 120.” Maxi Kleber is one of the defensive leaders and he said that forming a defensive identity takes time. “We have good defenders on this team,” he said. “We have guys that are willing to play hard defense. They want to play physical. But there are small things, like a couple switches here and there and communications we have to clean up.” . . . Luka Dončić has been back for two games since missing three with left leg injuries. He’s averaged 29.5 points, 9.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds in those two games . . . Kristaps Porzingis had a streak of seven 20-point games stopped on Saturday when he scored 13 against the Wizards. He made only 4-of-12 shots, just the second time in the past eight games he’s shot below 50 percent.
About the Cavaliers: They have played eight of their last nine games at home and went 3-6 during that stretch. Much of that time was spent without point guard Collin Sexton, who had surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee and is lost for the season . . . Highly regarded rookie big man Evan Mobley recently missed four games with an elbow problem, but returned Saturday with 13 points and nine rebounds in a win against Orlando. The 7-footer is averaging 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds . . . The Cavaliers are banking on their defense carrying the day. They play a slower pace and are fourth in the league in points allowed at 102.9 and ninth in overall defensive rating, allowing 106.1 points per 100 possessions . . . Third-year point guard Darius Garland leads them at 18.7 points and 7.1 assists per game, while shooting just over 35 percent from 3-point land . . . Former Texas Longhorn Jarrett Allen is a walking double-double these days, averaging 15.5 points and 11.2 rebounds . . . The Cavs have been a good road team so far, going 5-4 with road wins over Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers . . . This is the start of a three-game trip that moves along to Miami and Washington . . . Veteran guard Ricky Rubio still contributing at 31, averaging 14.6 points and 6.3 assists, mostly in a reserve role.
Twitter: @ESefko
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