Mavs-Cavs preview: Unexpected problem rears its ugly head

Through all the injuries, illnesses and anything else that cramped the Mavericks’ style before Christmas, they never had a problem putting the ball in the basket, which is kind of the crux of the NBA.

So during their recent swoon, the Mavericks’ inability to score has been a head-scratcher.

In their last five games, four of them losses, they have scored 100 or fewer points four times. They actually won one of those, 98-89, at Phoenix at the start of the road trip that went south (and north, west and east) and ended at 1-3 in Houston on New Year’s Day.

That’s why correcting things is important before the team with the best record in the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers, arrives at American Airlines Center on Friday.

It’s easy to say that missing Luka Dončić is the reason why the Mavericks have struggled offensively. But they built a roster that has strong scoring options all over. They should be able to absorb any absences, even Luka’s.

But a buffet of bungles has caused the Mavericks’ offensive woes of late.

They first and foremost have had too many turnovers. They had 20 in Houston on Wednesday, which led to 22 points for the Rockets. That followed 18 miscues at Sacramento. Before this stretch of four losses in five games, they averaged just 14.2 turnovers per game.

And sharing the ball has been lacking. During the past five games, they have averaged 19 assists compared to 25.9 assists in the first 29 games of the season.

And, finally, shooting has been lacking. Not the percentages, the actual number of shots.

After averaging 89 shots per game through the first 29, they are at 80.4 in the last five games.

Admittedly, five games is not enough of a sample size to get alarmed about. But the Mavericks are looking at another couple of weeks, maybe more, without Dončić. They have a lot of details to clean up and the schedule, starting Friday, is not getting any easier with a trip to Memphis followed by a four-game stay at AAC with the Lakers and two games against the Nuggets in that stretch.

So the time is now to start cleaning up the details.

Here’s what else to look for as the Mavericks take on the red-hot Cavaliers:

• The Cavaliers have been by far the biggest surprise in the league so far and after 33 games, their success no longer can be considered a fluke. They’re simply that good. They are top-10 in the NBA in both overall offensive (1^st) and defensive (8^th) rating. They make shots from both three-point range (40.7 percent, 1^st in the NBA) and inside the arc (58.3 percent, also 1^st).
• Cleveland started the season on a 15-game winning streak, lost three of five and since have won 12 of 13. They are riding an eight-game winning streak that includes three in a row on this four-game Western Conference trip that concludes Friday. So far they have won at Denver, Golden State and the Los Angeles Lakers.
• They are led by Donovan Mitchell, the key piece they got in the Lauri Markkanen/Collin Sexton trade with Utah. Mitchell is averaging 23.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
• The Cavs have an early candidate for sixth man of the year as Caris LeVert is averaging 11.6 points and shooting 47.1 percent from three-point range in 23.8 minutes per game. They also are getting strong seasons from Darius Garland (20.5 points), Evan Mobley (18.4 points) and Jarrett Allen (13.7 points and 10.1 rebounds).
• The Mavericks are trying to snap a three-game losing streak, all of which came at the end of a four-game trip. After this brief stop at home, they visit Memphis on Monday before a four-game home stand starts against the Lakers on Tuesday.
• Luka Dončić (left calf strain) will remain sidelined, but the status of P.J. Washington remains to be determined. He exited Wednesday’s game at Houston with a right knee issue. Naji Marshall will be wrapping up his four-game suspension.
• They did get some good news when Dereck Lively II returned from a three-game absence (hip contusion), albeit on a minutes restriction in Houston. His presence should help against the active Allen who patrols the paint for Cleveland.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (29-4) at MAVERICKS (20-14)

WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV: KFAA, MAVS TV STREAM

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

X: @ESefko