MAVERICKS (12-12) at INDIANA PACERS (11-16)
Time: 6 p.m., Friday.
Place: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis.
TV: Bally Sports Southwest.
Radio: The Eagle 97.1 FM; Univision Zona MX 99.1 FM (Spanish)
About the Mavericks: They started this trip with a strong 104-96 win over Memphis on Wednesday and it was the way they carved out that victory that was impressive. They got equal parts good (but not great) shooting, rebounding, solid bench play and impressive outings from their starters. It’s funny how when you shoot 48 percent instead of 38 percent, winning becomes more likely . . . Mavs-Pacers has been an interesting match the last two years with the road team winning four consecutive meetings . . . Kristaps Porzingis is averaging 22.3 points, 8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 10 career games against the Pacers and in his last five against them, he’s averaged 29 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2 blocks . . . Fan favorite Moses Brown made his biggest contribution of the season Wednesday against the Grizzlies with nine points and seven rebounds in 12 minutes of action. He also had two blocked shots as the slender 7-2 center was active at both ends of the floor. He led a strong rebounding night as the Mavericks won the boards 47-40 . . . Luka Dončić continues to fight through a sore left ankle, but it couldn’t stop him from running up 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, which more than made up for his one blemish, nine turnovers . . . Sterling Brown (left foot soreness) has missed the last two games and remains questionable. Willie Cauley-Stein is still sidelined with a personal matter.
About the Pacers: They have been a mixed bag this season under coach Rick Carlisle, who will miss the first game against his old team as he has contracted the coronavirus . . . However, his team is coming off a resounding 122-102 bashing of the New York Knicks on Wednesday . . . Whispers have gotten louder that they are considering a major rebuilding job and the issue was enough that management reached out to talk to their best players before the dominating showing against the Knicks . . . One of those players is Domantas Sabonis, who has been a double-double machine, averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds while doing virtually all of his work in or near the paint . . . Despite being five games under .500, the Pacers are averaging about two more points per game than their opponents, courtesy of a few blowouts like Wednesday’s. But they have not been good in close games, going 2-8 in games decided by five points or fewer . . . First-round draft pick (13th overall) Chris Duarte was a college teammate at Oregon with the Mavs’ Eugene Omoruyi. Duarte is off to a fast start in his rookie season, averaging 13.5 points and 4 rebounds while shooting 35.6 percent from 3-point range . . . Injuries have hurt them. T.J. McConnell (wrist) is out, possibly for the season. T.J. Warren (foot) is out until later this month and Justin Holiday (health and safety protocols) has missed more than a week.
Twitter: @ESefko
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