SAN FRANCISCO – Like clockwork, guard Kyrie Irving is usually the first member of the Dallas Mavericks to walk through American Airlines
Center doors on game day in preparation for a game.
But that wasn’t the case Friday when the Mavs defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, 111-103.
Guard Max Christie was the first Mavs’ player at AAC on Friday. And Irving had some good-natured fun on how – and why — that all took place.
“(Christie) wants to be great at what he does,” Irving said. “And when somebody wants to do that, they’ll beat you to the arena early like Max Christie did (Friday) and set a great example.”
Mavs coach Jason Kidd still can’t believe someone – anyone – beat Irving to AAC on game day.
“Kai’s usually here by 2 (p.m.), 2:30 (p.m.) — before anybody else,” Kidd said. “Kai must have gotten stuck in traffic.
“He shared with me (that Christie beat him to AAC) when he got to work. I said, ‘You must have drove the slow car or got stuck in traffic.’ ”
Irving is a stickler for being the first player inside AAC on game days so he can go through his treatments, pre-game workouts and pre-game routine. For Irving, all of that is approximately a five-and-half hour process — from the time he arrives at the arena until tipoff.
Every now and then a Max Christie will get to the arena before Irving. But it’s very rare that happens.
“Other than (former Mavs guard) Jazian (Gortman) and some of the two-ways, not too many,” Irving said. “But Max beat me. I was pissed!”
Irving, of course, said that tongue in cheek. He knows the fact that Christie beat him to AAC says a lot about Christie and his level of respect for preparing to play the game.
“I was happy to see him, but at the same time I gave him the side-eye,” Irving said. “(Christie) did this on purpose, to motivate me.
“I thought I left my house early. That’s just a testament of being a true professional and having fun at your craft.”
After playing two games on the West Coast against the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, the Mavs’ next home game is Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets. Only time will tell who’ll get to AAC first – Irving, Christie or someone else.
“I can only imagine Kai will spend the night next time to make sure he beats (Christie to AAC),” Kidd said. “It’s kind of cool to see somebody else join the party to come early to work.”
Here are some other nuggets surrounding Sunday’s game between the Mavs and Warriors.
*After battling the Warriors on Sunday, the Mavs will head to Los Angeles for a much-anticipated contest against the rival Lakers. This is the first matchup between
the two teams since the Mavs traded guard Luka Dončić to the Lakers on Feb. 2. From there, the Mavs will return to Dallas to open a three-game home stand starting Thursday against the Charlottle Hornets.
*The Warriors have won four of their last five games with the lone loss being in Dallas to the Mavs, 111-107, on Feb. 12. This is only a brief two-game home stand for the Warriors – they host Charlotte on Tuesday – before they open a five-game road trip starting Thursday in Orlando.
*Following a heartbreaking 118-116 loss in Philadelphia on Feb. 4, the Mavs have won five of their last six games. The lone loss during that period was at home in overtime to the Sacramento Kings, 129-128, on Feb. 10.
*The Mavs are 2-1 against the Warriors this season, and would win the season series with a win Sunday. And that could come into play when the playoffs roll around. The Mavs are currently seeded No. 8 in the Western Conference – a mere one-and-a-half games ahead of the No. 9-seeded Warriors. Golden State nipped the Mavs, 120-117, in San Francisco, on Nov. 12. The Mavs won in San Francisco, 143-113, on Dec. 15. Both teams combined to set an NBA record in that game for three-pointers made with 48 – 27 by the Warriors and 21 by the Mavs. On Feb. 12, Kyrie Irving poured in 42 points on 15-of-25 shots to lead the Mavs to a 111-107 victory over the Warriors in Dallas. With the Mavs ahead, 109-107, Irving also came up with the defensive gem of the day when he drew a charge from Jimmy Butler with 17.1 seconds remaining in the game.
*Since acquiring Jimmy Butler in a trade with the Miami Heat earlier this month, the Warriors are 4-1. Butler is averaging 20.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 5.6 apg with Golden State. He also has been such a shining light with the Warriors that Golden State forward Draymond Green said they’re going to win the NBA title this season.
*The Mavs were originally scheduled to play the Warriors only three times this season – once in Dallas and twice in San Franciso. But a game was added after both teams were eliminated in the NBA Cup. And that game, played on Dec. 15, unfortunately was played in San Francisco. Thus, after Sunday’s game the Mavs and Warriors will have played four times this season — and three of the games will have been played in San Francisco.
*Stephen Curry (23.4 ppg, 6.1 apg) and Jonathan Kuminga (16.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg) lead the Warriors – along with Jimmy Butler. Also, Buddy Hield (11.7 ppg) and Brandi Podziemski (10 ppg) are solid contributors from the backcourt. Kuminga, however, is still out and hasn’t played since suffering a sprained right ankle against Memphis on Jan. 4.
*Centers Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture) and Daniel Gafford (right MCL sprain), forwards Anthony Davis (strained left adductor) and Dwight Powell (strained right hip), and guard Caleb Martin (strained hip) are all out and will not play Sunday for the Mavs.
*Playing a much quicker brand of ball in recent weeks, the Mavs are led by Kyrie Irving (24.9 ppg), Max Christie (17.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg), P. J. Washington (14.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg), Klay Thompson (13.8 ppg), Naji Marshall (11.3 ppg), Dante Exum (10.8 ppg) and Spencer Dinwiddie (10.3 ppg). Christie has scored at least 15 points in all seven games he’s played in for the Mavs.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (31-26) at GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (29-27)
When: 2:30 p.m., Sunday
Where: Chase Center, San Francisco
TV: WFAA-8, ESPN, MavsTV Stream
Radio: KEGL 97.1 FM The Eagle, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
X: @DwainPrice
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