DALLAS MAVERICKS (6-4) AT WASHINGTON WIZARDS (5-6)
When: 6 p.m., Thursday
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
TV: BSSW
Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
What you need to know: This is the finale of a brief two-game trip for the Mavs, and also the second half of a back-to-back. The road trip started in disappointing fashion as the Magic upset the Mavs in Orlando on Wednesday, 94-87. The loss snapped the Mavs’ four-game winning streak. . .The Mavs are 1-0 on the back end of a back-to-back after defeating Orlando in Dallas, 114-105, on Oct. 30. . .Luka Doncic is poised to start another streak after he saw his run at least 30 points in every game end with a 24-point performance during Wednesday’s loss to the Magic. Doncic was a dismal 9-of-29 from the field in that game. . .The Mavs scored just 33 points in the second half against the Magic, and shot a frosty 37.6 percent from the field. “We got great looks that we had been making,” coach Jason Kidd said. “(Wednesday), we just didn’t make them. Give (the Magic) credit. They were great in the second half.”. .Spencer Dinwiddie tallied a season-high 29 points on 9-of-19 shooting during the loss to the Magic. . .Besides Dinwiddie and Doncic, the other Mavs combined to shoot 14-of-37 
from the floor and score only 34 points against Orlando. . .The Magic are just 3-9 on the season and are tied with Detroit and Charlotte for the third-worst record in the NBA. That prompted Doncic to say, “We have to play better as a team, especially against those kinds of teams. We say it before the game and then we don’t do it. Sooner or later, we are going to regret it.”. .After tonight’s game, the Mavs will return home and host Portland on Saturday in the opener of a five-game homestand. . .Center Christian Wood is not even on this trip and will miss his second straight game because of a left knee strain. . .Veteran guard Bradley Beal leads the Wizards with 21.6 ppg and 5.7 apg. Former Mavs center/forward Kristaps Porzingis is averaging 19.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg and 1.3 bpg. Kyle Kuzma averages 17.2 ppg and 7.4 apg, and Rui Hachimura is averaging 11 ppg. . .The Wizards are averaging 107 ppg, but allowing 111.1 ppg. . .The Wizards scored 62 points in the second half and snapped a two-game losing streak Monday when they went on the road and beat Charlotte, 108-100, behind 20 points from Kuzma, 19 points from Porzingis and 50 points from their bench.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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