MAVERICKS (49-30) at DETROIT PISTONS (23-56)
Time: 6 p.m., Wednesday.
Place: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.
TV: Bally Sports Southwest.
Radio: The Eagle 97.1 FM; Univision Zona MX 99.1 FM (Spanish)
About the Mavericks: So Jason Kidd was asked about the personality of his team, which needed a good chunk of the season to form. He said it’s certainly not his personality that has embodied the team. It’s all about Luka Dončić, he said. “It’s always the (star) player,” Kidd said. “It’s just a calm sense of steady. They trust one another and chemistry and accountability is high. We don’t blame anyone. We learn from it and move forward.” That’s the sort of culture that coaches and players both can live with . . . The Mavericks are playing their final road game of the season and they will wrap up a four-game trip, although they returned to Dallas Sunday after winning 118-112 at Milwaukee. A couple nights in their own homes is priceless at this time of year . . . They will be trying to finish their regular season with their 23rd road win against 18 losses after going 21-15 in last season’s shortened season . . . They finish the season with home games Friday against Portland and Sunday against San Antonio . . . The Mavericks have won four of their last five games as they try to hang on to a top four finish in the Western Conference and a home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
About the Pistons: They are winding down their third consecutive season of missing the playoffs, although their 23 wins are a slight uptick from the 20 victories in each of the last two (shortened) seasons . . . Leading scorer Jerami Grant (19.3 per game) is out for the remainder of the season with a calf issue. Rookie of the year candidate Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick last summer, missed Sunday’s game against Indiana, which was a 121-117 victory for the Pistons . . . Cunningham has proven to be a good selection in the draft, averaging 17.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5. assists per game . . . They also have a keeper in second-year forward Sadiq Bey, who is averaging 16.3 points and 5.5 rebounds, while shooting 35.2 percent from 3-point range . . . The Pistons are offensively challenged, however, ranking 28th in the league in scoring and overall offensive efficiency . . . They have won three games in a row, including a 102-94 victory over Philadelphia, along with road wins over Oklahoma City and Indiana . . . They are finishing Dwane Casey’s fourth season as coach as the former Mavericks’ assistant continues with the rebuilding program in the Motor City.
Twitter: @ESefko
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