Brooklyn Nets at Mavericks
(6:30 p.m., American Airlines Center, Dallas)
TV: Bally Sports Southwest/TNT
Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM (Univision 1270 AM, Spanish)
About the Mavericks (37-28): In spite of slow starts in virtually every game lately, they have put together a nice run of seven wins in their last nine games, including Tuesday’s 127-113 blowout of the Heat in Miami . . . The Mavericks have won the first quarter just three times in their last 13 games . . . Yet, since April 17, they are 7-0 against everybody not named Sacramento . . . Tim Hardaway Jr. is a legitimate sixth man of the year candidate, even though he has scored 78 points in his last two starting assignments. He had 42 at Detroit and 36 at Miami. In his last five games, he’s averaged 25.2 points and hit 23-of-50 3-pointers. He tied the franchise record for triples in a game with 10 against the Heat. George McCloud and Wesley Matthews are the only other Mavericks with 10 3-pointers in a game . . . The Mavericks will have a chance to go 10 games over .500 for the first time this season . . . Depending on how the Mavericks finish this season, Luka Dončić has a strong backer in the MVP conversation. “If we keep winning and we win out, I really feel like he’s top three,” Hardaway said. “The numbers he’s put up this year are incredible.” . . . . Jalen Brunson remains one of the best bang-for-your-buck players in the league. He had 19 points in 18 minutes against the Heat and has shot 15-of-24 from the field in the last two games . . . Going by the standings before the start of Wednesday’s action, Brooklyn is the last winning team on the Mavericks’ remaining schedule.
About the Nets (43-23): They will be in a foul mood after losing twice at Milwaukee, including Tuesday’s 124-118 loss that further dented their hopes of having the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, presently owned by Philadelphia . . . In that game, the Nets had Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but not James Harden, who is out indefinitely with a hamstring injury . . . All three of them are averaging more than 25 points per game . . . Running down the list of great players the Nets have will wear you out. Joe Harris shoots 48 percent from 3-point range, DeAndre Jordan continues to rebound well and Blake Griffin and Landry Shamet don’t even start. Plus, Jeff Green has always been a pain in the neck for the Mavericks . . . The Nets are first in the league in shooting percentage (.492) and second in points scored (118.7 per game). They also are fifth in 3-point percentage (.389) . . . On the down side, they are 27th in total defensive rating, but when your offense is as efficient as theirs, you can survive suspect defense . . . Durant has been back from a thigh injury and in the five games since, he’s averaged 33.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists. He’s also shot 54.5 percent from 3-point range . . . Irving averages 27 points per game, just a shade below Durant’s 28.3 for the season . . . The Nets are so good they didn’t even flinch (much) when they signed LaMarcus Aldridge and he quickly announced his retirement. Easy to see why they are the favorites in the Eastern Conference, or at least co-favorites with Philadelphia and Milwaukee – if they are healthy.
Twitter: @Esefko
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