The Dallas Mavericks’ 5-7 start to the season seem like a distant memory now.
Dallas has gone 12-2 since its slow start and will look to carry momentum into a matchup against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday in the first of a mini two-game set. The teams meet again on Saturday in Dallas.
Los Angeles ended a three-game losing streak with a 144-107 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday behind a stellar effort by James Harden, who made seven 3-pointers and finished with 41 points.
The Clippers have won their last two regular-season meetings against Dallas, which is coming off a 143-133 victory over the host Golden State Warriors on Sunday. (The Mavericks eliminated the Clippers in six games in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs last season.)
Luka Doncic recorded his third triple-double of the season with a season-high 45 points along with 13 assists and 11 rebounds in the win over the Warriors. Klay Thompson scored 29 points and Kyrie Irving added 21.
The Clippers have struggled to contain Doncic throughout his career. The five-time All-Star is averaging 32.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 18 career regular-season games against Los Angeles.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd provided a simple explanation for his team’s recent success following a concerning first few weeks.
“Just getting comfortable with one another,” Kidd said. “Sometimes it takes time. The first two weeks of the season, with the injuries we had coming out of camp, we just had to get used to one another. Guys have done really good with that. Everyone wants to go undefeated, but you learn when you lose how to come back and be better. This group has done that at a high level.”
Kidd also offered high praise for second-year center Dereck Lively II, who is averaging 8.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.
“D-Live’s work ethic, his coachability, understanding his role, his energy and what he brings to the team — it’s at a high,” Kidd said. “You can see his growth. Each time he takes the floor, he’s added something. The trust his teammates have with the lob (is big) and also his ability to give us second and third opportunities.”
Lively will be tasked with helping to slow down Harden, who is averaging 22.1 points, 8.3 assists and 6.5 rebounds. The 35-year-old is also playing 33.7 minutes per game.
“He knows his body,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “He works hard every single day, and we are just trying to get him to pick his spots where he can cut back and do less because he is playing a lot of minutes in these games, and so we just want to make sure he is healthy all the way through, and he’s been doing a good job with that.”
Harden has had to carry a larger workload while the Clippers await Kawhi Leonard’s season debut. Leonard is out with inflammation in his right knee, and the team is also playing without forward Derrick Jones Jr. (hamstring).
“I give our guys credit, our players, no matter who’s been here,” Lue said. “When guys have been out, we always feel like we have a chance to win and so just go on the floor every single night. Just finding ways to win.”
–Field Level Media
