Run it back: Mavericks hope big men return for rematch with Clippers

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Other than getting a key player or two back, there’s a couple of easy fixes for the Mavericks in their rematch with the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.

Make more shots, which won’t be hard considering they didn’t make any three-pointers in the first half of Friday’s 23-point loss to the Clippers.

And make the LA defense work a little harder.

That, too, shouldn’t be hard if the Mavericks get a couple of key players back, which looks like a good possibility.

Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II both sat out the first half of the back-to-back set with the Clips. It seems like a good possibility that both will return Saturday.

That in itself will level the playing field. But the Mavericks also could have Klay Thompson back. He left after playing less than 13 minutes with an illness.

But it’s the addition of Davis and Lively that could tilt things in the Mavericks’ favor against the Clippers, who used their size with Ivica Zubac (14 points, 13 rebounds) to control the interior.

“Definitely will make a difference,” said Naji Marshall. “We need big bodies, especially to battle with Zubac. And they’re a big team, so that will help us out. It’s always a plus to have them.”

Coach Jason Kidd has learned in this Murphy’s Law season that he can never count on anything when it comes to the Mavericks’ health. But what he does know is that when Davis is on the floor, things change for his team on both ends of the court.

“With AD on the floor, you don’t have to foul because he’s going to be there behind you to change or to block shots,” Kidd said. “So this is a group that’s getting used to that because we’ve been so small for so long we had to reach and if we didn’t reach, they were going to score. That’s just who he is. He’s a leader. And loves this leadership role. And we truly believe he’s going to help us go win that championship.”

And the Mavericks are learning quickly that Davis is more workmanlike than glitz and magic.

“The one thing cool about him is he’s not flashy,” Kidd said. “He might not be sexy, but he’s one of the best players in the world. He’s on the list of (top) 75. A lot of us don’t understand how hard it is to be on that list. He’s won at every level – high school, college, championship in LA. Sometimes, that’s overlooked.

“He wants to be one of the best. And I think he has a great opportunity with us here in Dallas to show that he is one of the best in the world. I think sometimes we take that for granted because it looks so easy. Three blocks, 10 rebounds, 25 points a night. Sometimes I guess that can be boring and not sexy.”

No matter what you call it, the Mavericks are hoping to get it back Saturday night in the second game against the Clippers.

Here’s what else to watch for in Game No. 79 this season:

• Don’t underestimate how important it is to get Thompson back. The shooting guard averaged 15.5 points in the four games before exiting early on Friday. And in three of those four games, he had nailed 50 percent or more of his three-point tries. And having Davis, as well as Lively and Daniel Gafford, is a big plus for Thompson. “Right now, you’re going to see a better Klay,” Kidd said. “And this is his time of year. Late March, early April and hopefully on into June.”
• The Mavericks likely will be without Jaden Hardy, who injured an ankle late in Friday’s game.
• After Saturday, the Mavericks have only one road game remaining – at Memphis on April 13, the final day of the regular season. In between, they will play at home against the Los Angeles Lakers and Luka Doncic on Wednesday and Toronto on Friday.
• On Friday, the Mavericks were outrebounded 30-17 in the first half, which was a big reason why they were behind 58-35 at the break. They never recovered in the second half, although their rebounding improved somewhat, finishing the game with 48-39 deficit.
• The Mavericks shot just 20 three-pointers (and made a season-low four) on Friday and that continued a trend that purists will love but which runs counter to what analysts preach in today’s NBA. In their past 17 games (6-11 record) the Mavericks have averaged 30.6 triples and made 10.8 per game. In the 61 games before that, they had averaged 35.5 three-pointers and made 13.1. While Kidd does not want the Mavericks to be a team that hoists 50 three-pointers a game, 20 might be too low. It was the second-lowest number of attempts this season (19 vs. New York on March 25).
• The Clippers are in a dogfight for spots five through eight in the Western Conference standings. They are 45-32, the same record as Minnesota and Memphis. The Clips are only two games behind the third-place Los Angeles Lakers.

MAVERICKS (38-40) at LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (45-32)

WHEN: 9:30 p.m., Saturday.

WHERE: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, Calif.

TV: KFAA 29, MAVSTV STREAM.

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

X: @ESefko