Doncic, Mavs are involved in another box office matchup

Two of the top players for the New Orleans Pelicans sustained injuries in Sunday’s game against the Utah Jazz, putting their status for Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks in jeopardy.

Zion Williamson is questionable for the matchup against the Mavs with a hip contusion suffered in a nasty fall, while Brandon Ingram has been placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol after teammate Naji Marshall inadvertently hit him in the face when the two were going for the basketball. A player’s duration in the concussion protocol lasts from seven-to-10 days, meaning Ingram will not play in the game against the Mavs.

“We’re preparing for them to be playing,” coach Jason Kidd said before hearing the update on Ingram. “Until we’re told otherwise, our game plan is with those two out there.”

Kidd’s game plan, needless to say, has now been altered. But guard Spencer Dinwiddie believes that with no Ingram on the court, all that means is there will be more available shots for guard CJ McCollum, who averages a team-high 23.3 points on 48.3 percent shooting.

“I venture to guess that CJ will be that much more aggressive,” Dinwiddie said. “So you have to come out and be prepared to guard a prime CJ.”

If Williamson plays in Tuesday’s 6:30 p.m. game, pitting him against Mavs guard Luka Doncic is the marquee matchup NBA fans are anxious to see. Last Saturday it was Doncic and the Mavs against Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies – another premier matchup that caught the eyes of fans across the globe.

Doncic and the Mavs won that battle, 137-96, with Doncic outscoring Morant, 32-20.  Doncic actually had more points in the first quarter (21) than Morant scored in the entire game. It was a matchup between two the top candidates to win this year’s Most Valuable Player award.

“Luka is a super competitive guy,” Dinwiddie said. “I don’t think that he thinks obviously anybody can check him or anything like that. And we have confidence in him to score and make plays with the best of them in the league.

“As far as Ja, it’s kind of similar to Zion. He’s not going to be really matched up against him primarily. They might get switched onto each other. Of course, that happens throughout the flow of the game.”

With that box checked by Doncic — he averages 33.5 points, eight rebounds and eight assists — inquiring minds can’t wait to see how the matchup between the 23-year Doncic and the 22-year old Williamson will unfold.

“They’re two of the most exciting young players in the league matched up against each other,” Dinwiddie said. “It’s must-see TV. Box office and all that.

“In terms of internally, it’s not really a thing because they’re not really going to match up against each other. I would eventually guess that (Dorian Finney-Smith), Maxi (Kleber), JaVale (McGee) — shoot even myself — I might be on him more than Luka.”

Williamson missed the entire 2021-22 season with a fracture in his right foot and is expected to return to the exceptional form that saw him average 27 points and 7.2 rebounds during the 20-21 campaign. So far this season he’s averaging 22 points and 6.7 rebounds on 49.1 percent shooting.

“He’s one of the best players in the league, and he causes a problem,” Kidd said, referring to Williamson. “(He’s) able to play above the rim with his force (and grab) offensive rebounds. He can control the offensive end quickly, so we have to box him out and make it tough on him.

“And then in transition, we’ve got to locate him because they will throw the lob to him. And when he gets out, he can run just like a guard, so we’ve got to be conscious of where he’s at on the floor.”

DEFENSE ON POINT: It’s obviously a very small sample size, but as of now the Mavs are ranked second in the NBA in the fewest points allowed at 101.5 per game. The Milwaukee Bucks top the list after allowing a league-best 96.5 points per outing.

The Mavs lost their season opener at Phoenix, 107-105, last Wednesday before bouncing back and hammering the Memphis Grizzlies, 137-96, this past Saturday. Mark Cuban’s team also is eighth in blocked shots at 6.5 per game.

“It’s only two games, but it’s great,” coach Jason Kidd said. “Hopefully we can finish up the season there (in second among fewest points allowed).”

“There’s a lot of things that we’re happy about, but there’s a couple of things we’ve got to work on. But it’s a good start.”

Since he arrived as the Mavs’ coach in the summer of 2021, Kidd often preached that if his team had designs on becoming one of the NBA’s elite team, they would have to transform from an offensive-minded team to one that’s very dependent on its defense. It’s the old offense comes and goes, but defense travels cliché.

“I think that the way that we play defense is a collective effort overall,” guard Spencer Dinwiddie said. “I think it’s something coach stressed since we all got back. It’s nice to see us holding to those principles.”

In the eight quarters they’ve played thus far, the Mavs have allowed 25 points or less in five of them. They also are sixth in the league in defensive three-point shooting percentage at 30.9 percent.

“We’re just contesting with a high hand and understanding that we have help behind us and trust our teammates that they’ll have our back,” Dinwiddie said. “So just doing everything we can do to run them off the (three-point) line.”

It all is a welcome sight for Kidd.

“We’re on a conscious effort in this league,” he said. “Today you see the scores are pretty high.

“A lot of teams are shooting threes. We’ve got to guard the three-point line and guys are doing it right now.”

On the offensive side, the Mavs have held the lead for 93 of the 96 minutes in the opening two games. They also have held at least a 22-point lead in each game.

But the Mavs failed to hold onto a 67-45 lead they established early in the third quarter against Phoenix. Dinwiddie said: “We have to build on the Phoenix game in terms of not giving up that lead.”

While Kidd is hopeful that the trend of his team jumping out and setting the early tone on offense will continue with Tuesday’s contest, he also is a bit more realistic.

“We’ve gotten off to good starts,” Kidd said. “It’s early, understanding one game has led to another, having a lead and playing with a lead in game two. We continued to score in that third (quarter), and. . .we tied that quarter (at 35-35).

“It’s about being able to play with a lead. And somewhere in the season we’re going to learn how to play from behind. It just happens that way, so we’ll see. It’s early. It’s very, very early.”

BRIEFLY: Argentina fans can breathe a sigh of relief now that guard Facundo Campazzo has his visa issues resolved and can start playing for the Mavs. “He’s cleared to play, so hopefully we’ll get him in tomorrow,” coach Jason Kidd said. “As long as we can make their country happy, that’s what we’ll do. So he’ll participate tomorrow.” A native of Argentina, Campazzo, 31, signed a one-year contract with the Mavs last Tuesday. . .Guard Frank Ntilikina did not participate in Monday’s practice. Ntilikina has yet to play this season as he continues to deal with a right ankle effusion. Kidd said: “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”. . After opening the season with games against Phoenix and Memphis, and now on a two-game road trip against New Orleans and Brooklyn, the Mavs return home for back-to-back games at American Airlines Center — Saturday against Oklahoma City and Sunday against Orlando. “The six games that we have here in this month are tough,” coach Jason Kidd said. “So this is a good test early. Hopefully we can be a positive in the month.”

Twitter: @DwainPrice