PREVIEW
Spurs (12-17) AT MAVS (19-10)
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: TNT
Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM; Univision 1270 AM (Spanish)
About the Mavs: Tonight is the night the Mavs hope to have their superstar point guard, Luka Doncic, back on the court. Doncic is listed as questionable for the game with a right ankle sprain he suffered less than two minutes into the 122-118 overtime loss to the Miami Heat back on Dec. 14. A top candidate to win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award this season, Doncic averages 29.3 ppg, 9.6 rpg and 8.9 apg. When the Mavs beat the Spurs in Dallas, 117-110, on Nov. 18, Doncc finished with a career-high 42 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists, while becoming the second youngest player — behind LeBron James – to register a 40-point triple-double. . .Kristaps Porzingis produced a string of four straight games where he scored at least 20 points and grabbed at least 10 rebounds before having that career-best streak snapped this past Sunday in Toronto when he tallied 19 points and collected 12 rebounds. Porzingis is averaging 17.6 ppg, and team highs of 9.6 rpg and 2.1 bpg.. .Dorian Finney-Smith scored a career-high 22 points on 8-of-10 shots when the Mavs defeated the Spurs on Dec. 14. The Mavs are 10-2 when Finney-Smith scores at least 10 points. . .The Mavs are 69-112 all-time against the Spurs, including a 42-49 record during games played in Dallas.
About the Spurs: San Antonio opened the season with a poor 6-13 record, but has steadily rebounded and won six of its last 10 games. That includes this past Monday’s 145-115 blowout win at Memphis when Seagoville native LaMarcus Aldridge poured in 40 points. The Spurs shot a sizzling 67.4 percent from the field against the Grizzlies, which is best for any team this season. San Antonio tallied a whopping 46 points in the first quarter against Memphis and had 108 points after three quarters. The Spurs also had a season-high 36 assists and shot 62.5 percent from 3-point range in that game. . .DeMar DeRozan totaled 26 points on 10-of-11 shots — along with 10 assists – in the 30-point win over Memphis. DeRozan also collected a season-high 36 points on 14-of-20 field goals when the Spurs lost to the Mavs by seven points on Dec. 14. DeRozan averages a team-high 20.9 ppg and 5.3 rpg. . .Aldridge is averaging 19.4 ppg and 7.4 rpg. . .One of the game’s best pure shooters, Patty Mills averages 11.7 ppg and is shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point land. . .Other than DeRoazn, Aldridge and Mills, the Spurs have received ample support from Bryn Forbes (11.6 ppg), Rudy Gay (10.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and Dejounte Murray (10.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg).
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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