PREVIEW
MAVS (35-23) AT SPURS (24-32)
Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
Place: AT&T Center, San Antonio
TV: FSSW
Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM; Univision 1270 AM (Spanish)
About the Mavs: Tonight’s game is the opener of a four-game road trip for the Mavs. Also on this trip, the Mavs will play in Miami on Friday, in Minneapolis against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday afternoon, and in Chicago on Monday before returning home to host the New Orleans Pelicans on Mar. 4. . .Luka Donic has an NBA-high tying 12 triple-doubles this season and has 20 for his career. He needs just one more to tie Jason Kidd for the most triple-doubles in franchise history. . .The Mavs have won six of their last 10 games. . .Guard Jalen Brunson will not play due to a sprain right shoulder and center Willie Cauley-Stein is questionable because of personal reasons. . .The Mavs are 70-112 all-time against the Spurs, including a 27-63 record in San Antonio. . .The Mavs are 2-0 against the Spurs this season, winning both games in Dallas. Doncic had 42 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists as the Mavs defeated the Spurs, 117-110, on Nov. 18. And Doncic added 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists during the Mavs’ 102-98 triumph on Dec. 26.
About the Spurs: San Antonio has surprisingly played so poorly this season that it is in serious jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 1996-97 season. The Spurs have been in the playoffs 22 consecutive seasons, meaning they have been in the postseason every year since Mavs’ point guard Luka Doncic has been born. . . The Spurs have dropped six of their last eight games. That includes Sunday’s 131-103 loss at Oklahoma City. The Spurs shot 36.9 percent from the field against Oklahoma City and also converted only 28.9 percent of their 3-point attempts (11-of-38). Meanwhile, OKC made 57.7 percent of its field goals and popped in 45.4 percent of its 3-point tries (10-of-22). . .The Spurs are 14-12 at home this season. . .The Spurs have allowed more points this season (114.6 ppg) than they’ve scored (113 ppg). . .DeMar DeRozan is unquestionably the Spurs’ best player with averages of 22.7 pgg, 5.6 rpg and 5.2 apg. Also for San Antonio, Seagoville product LaMarcus Aldridge (18.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg), Patty Mills (11.7 ppg), Bryn Forbes (11.1 ppg), Dejounte Murray (10.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Derrick White (10.1 ppg) have been solid contributors this season. . .The Spurs are shooting a healthy 36.8 percent from 3-point range, meaning the Mavs will likely try and chase them off the 3-point stripe.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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