Mavs-Bulls preview: avoiding skids is a trend worth embracing

Measuring success is different for various NBA franchises, but for elite teams, one of the key indicators is avoiding protracted losing streaks.

Especially at home.

The Mavericks are 4-3 this season, which is lukewarm. But they haven’t lost two games in a row, a habit they hope to continue Wednesday night when the Chicago Bulls visit American Airlines Center.

Already in the first two weeks of the season, the Mavericks have had two good bounce-back victories. They lost the opener of this five-game home stand, but came back with a 108-85 bashing of the Orlando Magic. In the season’s first week, they followed a loss at Phoenix with a 110-102 home win over Utah.

Now, they will try to fix this run at home against the Bulls after getting run over by the Indiana Pacers on Monday on the second night of consecutive home games, which dropped them to 1-2 with the Bulls and Phoenix Suns on Friday still to go.

Chicago no doubt will be in a bad mood, like the Mavericks, after they got beat Monday at home by Utah. It was the Jazz’s first victory of the season after six losses.

The key to the Mavericks avoiding multiple losses in a row is going to be their defense. After their two previous losses, the Mavericks held Utah to 102 points and Orlando to 85. Admittedly, the Magic were without their best player, Paolo Banchero. But it was a good lockdown performance regardless.

Now they get a Bulls team that likes to play fast and can be potent offensively.

It will be up to the Mavericks to step up their defense after giving up 134 points and 57 percent shooting to the Pacers on Monday. The good news is that P.J. Washington has been perhaps their most consistent player defensively and is coming off an 11-rebound game against the Pacers.

“He’s a pro,” coach Jason Kidd said. “We love the shots he’s getting on the offensive end. But we really love what he’s doing on the defensive end for us. We’re asking him to guard everybody and he’s up for that challenge.

“He wants to make one of the all-defensive teams. So if he continues what he’s doing right now defensively, he should. He should be recognized for his defense.”

There would be no better time to clamp down on an opponent than Wednesday against the Bulls.

Here’s a few other things to look for as the Mavericks and Bulls tussle:

• The Bulls appear to be vulnerable to guard scoring, which should work well for the Mavericks. Utah got its first win of the season on Monday at Chicago when Keyonte George and Collin Sexton combined for 57 points and 14 assists, shooting 10-of-19 combined from three-point land. Perhaps Luka and Kyrie are salivating.
• Speaking of Luka, the superstar point guard has been up-and-down so far this season with his shooting, particularly with finishing around the basket. He gave everybody a calming analysis after Monday’s loss. “I’ll get it, don’t worry,” he said. “I’ve been feeling more and more (comfortable) every day. It was back-to-back, got to get some breath, man.” Of course, he said this after dropping 34 points on the Pacers.
• The Mavericks swept the two meetings between the teams last season and have won four of the last six at home.
• Maybe the crowd shouldn’t expect a lot of drama in this one. Seven of the last eight meetings have been decided by at least nine points.
• The Bulls have one of the best five-out centers in the league in Nikola Vucevic, who is averaging 21.7 points and 10.8 rebounds. They also are getting 20.6 points from guard Coby White and 14.7 from Josh Giddey, the versatile Australian the Bulls acquired from Oklahoma City for Alex Caruso. The Bulls’ leading scorer, Zach LaVine (22.7 points) is day to day with a hip injury.
• The Mavericks’ first-quarter woes are becoming more than just a bit concerning. They have been outscored in the opening 12 minutes in five of the seven games and are 2-3 in those. The average first-quarter score: Opponents 27.9, Mavericks 25.6.
• The Mavericks’ best quarter? It’s the third, when they average 31 points against the opponents’ 27.7 points.
• For the Bulls, in addition to LaVine, Lonzo Ball (right wrist) is out. The Mavericks will be without Dante Exum (right wrist) and Maxi Kleber (right hamstring). Dereck Lively II (shoulder sprain) missed Monday’s game and is questionable.

CHICAGO BULLS (3-4) at MAVERICKS (4-3)

WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV: KFAA, MavsTV Stream.

RADIO: KEGL 97.1 FM, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @ESefko