BROOKLYN NETS (4-6) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (5-3)
When: 8:45 p.m., Monday.
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas.
TV: Bally’s Sports Southwest.
Radio: 97.1 The Freak, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish).
What to watch for: OK, the Nets have been a dumpster fire so far with all the commotion about Kyrie Irving, the parting of the ways with coach Steve Nash and, oh yeah, a lot of problems with Ben Simmons. They expected to have a big three with Irving and Simmons being two-thirds of the equation. But it’s turned into Kevin Durant and a bunch of dudes, which might not be so bad. That grouping has won two in a row on their current three-game trip . . . Irving is suspended for at least three more games. Simmons has been dealing with ineffectiveness and various health issues, most recently a knee problem. Durant has been left to lead a group that includes Royce O’Neale, Joe Harris, Nic Claxton, Yuta Watanabe and a few others. But they have gotten support from some perhaps-unexpected corners, like Cam Thomas getting 21 points Saturday at Charlotte in a 98-94 Nets win. It was their second win in a row after starting the season 2-6, including a 129-125 overtime loss to the Mavericks in Brooklyn . . . Durant has been as great as ever, averaging 31.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists . . . The Nets won at Washington in addition to Charlotte and will be trying to finish off a 3-0 road trip . . . The Mavericks have won three in a row and will be ending a five-game home stand, trying to make it 4-1. They depart for a quick two-game trip to Orlando and Washington Wednesday and Thursday . . . Luka Dončić is off to a monster start to the season, scoring more than 30 points in all eight games and averaging an NBA-best 36 points per game to go with 8.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists . . . Spencer Dinwiddie has scored better of late, hitting 20 or better points in four of the last six games and averaging 18 during that stretch . . . The Mavericks are rolling offensively with the second-best rating in the league, but are only middle of the pack defensively . . . They again will be without Davis Bertans and Frank Ntilikina, although both are getting close to a return to action, coach Jason Kidd said . . . The Mavericks have won five of the last six meetings between these teams, but the last four all have been decided by four points or fewer . . . Rookie Jaden Hardy has rejoined the team after spending the weekend with the Texas Legends G-League team. In two games against the Austin Spurs, Hardy averaged 28 points on 50 percent shooting to go with 4 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
Twitter: @ESefko
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