PREVIEW
CLIPPERS (12-5) AT MAVS (11-5)
Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: FSSW; NBA TV
Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM; Univision 1270 AM (Spanish)
About the Mavs: This is one of those must-see games between two Western Conference heavyweights. The Mavs come in as the No. 4 seed in the West and have won fiive straight games after emerging victorious in Houston against the Rockets on Sunday, 137-123. Luka Doncic rambled through the Rockets’ defense for 41 points, six rebounds, 10 assists and two steals. On Monday, Doncic was named by the NBA as the Western Conference Player of The Week. In leading the Mavs to a 4-0 record last week, Doncic averaged 37 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 11.8 apg. Doncic had at least 30 points and 10 assists in those four games and joined Michael Jordan, James Harden and Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history to rack up at least 30 points and 10 assists in four consecutive games . . . Kristaps Porzingis has really come into his own. The 7-3 forward has five double-doubles in the past six games, including 23 points and 13 rebounds during the win over the Rockets . . . Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 22.3 ppg in the past three games – all as a starter — and is coming off a season-high 31 points against Houston. . .The Mavs are 96-63 all-time against the Clippers, including 55-23 in Dallas . . . After tonight’s game, the Mavs start a three-game road trip Friday in Phoenix. The road trip continues with a Sunday afternoon contest at the Los Angeles Lakers and a Dec. 3 game in New Orleans.
About the Clippers: Like the Mavs, the Clippers enter tonight’s game with a five-game winning streak. The latest victory came Sunday when the Clippers got a whopping 72 points from their bench and overwhelmed the New Orleans Pelicans, 134-109 . . . The Clippers have one of the top duos in the NBA in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Leonard was the MVP of the NBA Finals last season after helping the Toronto Raptors capture their first title. Leonard then signed a free agent contract with the Clippers and is averaging 25.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 5.5 apg, and 2.1 spg . . . George averages 25 ppg and 6.3 rpg. George has only been back for six games following shoulder surgery. In his first game back, he scored 33 points in only 24 minutes against New Orleans on Nov. 14. And in his second game back he poured in 37 points in just 20 minutes against Atlanta . . . Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell head up the Clippers’ deep bench, while Patrick Beverley is a pit bull type defender who likes to get under opponents’ skin. Williams averages 22.5 ppg and 5.8 apg, Harrell is averaging 19 ppg and 7.5 rpg, and collected 34 points and 12 rebounds off the bench in the win over the Pelicans. . .The Clippers are one of the heavy favorites to win this season’s NBA title . . . This is the opener of a three-game road trip for the Clippers, who also play in Memphis on Wednesday and in San Antonio on Friday.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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