Mavs-Heat preview: Old foes meet before All-Star break begins

A couple of teams in the throes of transition will face off on Thursday in the final game before the NBA All-Star break.

Like the Mavericks, the Miami Heat made a major trade, moving Jimmy Butler to Golden State

The Mavericks, meanwhile, are in transition for more than one reason. They not only made a major trade, maybe the biggest in NBA history in moving Luka Doncic, but they also have been beaten up by an avalanche of injuries.

It left them with the center combination of Kessler Edwards and O-Max Prosper for Wednesday’s game against the Warriors and, most likely, again for Thursday’s meeting with the Heat at American Airlines Center.

And, you know what? It might not be such a terrible thing.

Based on what we saw from their efforts against the Warriors, Edwards and Prosper can function just fine, at least in the short term. They might not be big on size, but they are long on energy and effort, which can make up for a lot of other deficiencies.

All you had to do was look at the game-winning basket for proof. Edwards had the ball in the paint and gave it up to Naji Marshall in the corner. He drove toward the rim and drained a 10-foot jumper.

“I thought Kessler did a great job of finding Marshall,” coach Jason Kidd said. “He was wide-open, could have shot the three, but he decided to drive it and get closer and makes a big two. Just understanding what the play calls for.”

Asked if Edwards and Prosper were doing OK playing out of position, Kidd said: “Maybe (they’re) not playing out of position for right now because it’s what the team needs. Setting screens, rolling and the physicality of this game can be taxing. I thought (Edwards) and O-Max did a really good job at the center position.”

Good enough to give the Mavericks a chance at 30 wins before the All-Star break. Thursday is the final game before the weeklong intermission and the Mavericks won for the third time in four games on Wednesday.

Here’s what else to watch for against Miami on Thursday:

• The Heat are coming off a 115-101 loss in Oklahoma City on Wednesday during which they were outscored 32-8 in the fourth quarter. The Thunder outscored them 24-0 in the first 5:35 of the fourth.
• The Heat are in as much of a transition as the Mavericks after having traded Jimmy Butler, who is a few rungs below Luka Doncic on the superstar ladder. But it’s still a monster move that the Heat are trying to adjust to. Just like the Mavericks are trying to build their new identity with . . . well, with whoever is healthy enough to suit up.
• The Heat are led by Bam Adebayo, who had 27 points and 15 rebounds against the Thunder and is averaging 16.5 points, 10 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game for the season. Newcomer Andrew Wiggins, acquired in the Butler deal, had 13 points and four rebounds in OKC.
• The Heat and Mavericks have quite the history, having met twice in the NBA Finals, with the Heat winning in 2006 and the Mavericks in 2011.
• The Mavericks had one of the most heartfelt wins of the season on Wednesday when they outlasted the Warriors 111-107. They got a massive night from Kyrie Irving, who had 42 points, but more importantly came up with the defensive stop, taking a charge from Butler, that saved the game.
• Max Christie continued his terrific run since arriving in the Anthony Davis trade. The 6-6 guard has had at least 15 points in all five games he’s played since joining the Mavericks and the seamless transition continued with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists against the Warriors. He also canned two free throws with 10 seconds left to ice the game.

MIAMI HEAT (25-27) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (29-26)

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas.

TV: Ch. 8, KFAA 29, MAVS TVSTREAM.

RADIO: KEGL 97.1 FM, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @ESefko