Mavericks-Thunder preview: The case for Irving’s All-Star nod

OKLAHOMA CITY – So the big question on Thursday is who the NBA’s All-Star starters will be when they are announced during TNT’s telecast.

The more local uncertainty is whether Luka Dončić and/or Kyrie Irving deserve to be included either in the starting lineup or as a reserve.

When healthy, there is no doubt that Dončić is an all-star starter. But he’s been out since Christmas with a strained left calf and the NBA often is an out-of-sight, out-of-mind league.

If the fans didn’t vote him in, then Luka is destined to miss his first All-Star game since his rookie season, only because he’s missed so many games.

As for Irving, it’s a bit more subjective. But there is no denying he’s earned a spot.

His numbers hold up against anybody. The most recent vote totals from last week for guards in the Western Conference were inconclusive, for sure.

While Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the clear leader, Golden State’s Steph Curry and Dončić were clumped together closely at Nos. 2 and 3. And Irving and Anthony Edwards of Minnesota also were close enough behind to make a late push.

If you go strictly by the numbers, it’s hard to argue against Irving as an All-Star. And he will have a legitimate shot as a reserve if he doesn’t move into a starting spot. Consider the stats:

Irving: 24.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists.

Edwards: 26.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists.

James Harden: 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.1 assists.

There are other possibilities, but Memphis’ Ja Morant has missed almost as many games as Dončić and trendy picks like Norman Powell of the LA Clippers and De’Aaron Fox of Sacramento seem like longer shots.

Irving doesn’t need anybody to endorse him for an All-Star selection. His production this season stands on its own. He’s been an All-Star eight times.

On Wednesday, coach Jason Kidd said that Irving has been a glue guy in holding things together amid a long line of injuries that the Mavericks have had to deal with.

“He’s been great since he’s been here,” Kidd said. “He loves to compete and he puts us in a position to win. With Luka, his record’s really good. Without Luka, it’s (8-6 this season after Wednesday’s loss to Minnesota). That just shows the depth of our team and construction of our team. We have a really good team when we’re healthy. But, it happens – illness, injuries. Kai’s a positive guy and he’s going to find a way to help us get through this.”

And if people have been paying attention, it could lead to his ninth All-Star appearance.

Here’s what else to look for on Thursday when the Mavericks visit the Thunder:

• One thing that is not questionable regarding All-Star starters is OKC’s Gilgeous-Alexander. He showed why again on Wednesday when he dropped in 54 points in a 123-114 win over Utah. It was the most points by a Thunder player since Russell Westbrook had outings of 58 and 57 points in March, 2017. Gilgeous-Alexander leads the NBA at 32 points per game.
• Against the Jazz, the Thunder also got 25 points from Jalen Williams, who led a rally last week in Dallas against the Mavericks when SGA missed that game – the only one he’s missed all season.
• The Thunder have not lost a home game in more than two months. The last team to win in Paycom Center was the Mavericks on Nov. 17 when they eked out 121-119 victory.
• The Thunder will continue to play without starting big man Chet Holmgren, who has been out since suffering a hip injury in the 10^th game of the season. His backup, Isaiah Hartenstein, has missed the last four games with a calf issue, but could be nearing a return, according to his original time frame.
• The Mavericks will wait for their daily ritual of banging their head against the wall when they find out who is and isn’t available to play. What we know is that Dončić (left calf strain), Dereck Lively II (right ankle sprain) and Dante Exum (right wrist surgery) are out. We’ll find out who might be available from this group when the daily injury update comes out: Jaden Hardy (ankle), Naji Marshall (illness), Klay Thompson (ankle) and Dwight Powell (hip).
• Like the Thunder, the Mavericks will be playing the second night of a back-to-back set after suffering a 115-114 loss at home to Minnesota. Kyrie Irving had 36 points, but it couldn’t stop the Mavericks from losing for the 10^th time in the last 13 games.
• The schedule gets no easier for the Mavericks as they return home after this game to play the Boston Celtics on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. It will be the first meeting since the two teams met in the NBA Finals last season.

DALLAS MAVERICKS (23-21) at OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (36-7)

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday.

WHERE: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City.

TV: WFAA, KFAA, MAVSTV STREAM.

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

X: @ESefko