No one has to email Jason Kidd and remind him how rough and tough the Cleveland Cavaliers are. The Dallas Mavericks coach
already knows.
“They’re one of the best teams in the East,” Kidd said. “Not just in the East, but in the NBA. Their backcourt puts a lot of pressure on your defense, and they’re long.
“They’re big and they’re mobile, and they protect the rim and they rebound the ball well. So this is a good test for us.”
The Mavs (14-13) and Cavs (17-11) will meet tonight at 8 at American Airlines Center in what’s shaping up to be a physical matchup.
The Cavs have the dual ability to play tall ball AND small ball with ultimate efficiency. That’s because they have a front line that includes All-Star center Jarrett Allen (6-9) and forward Evan Mobley (6-11), and a backcourt that includes All-Star guards Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Acquired in an offseason trade with the Utah Jazz this past summer, Mitchell averages 29 ppg and is shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from three-point land. Garland, meanwhile, is averaging 21.4 ppg and 7.9 apg, and has made 42.4 percent of his field goals and 38.5 percent of his three-pointers.
“We know how special those two guards are,” forward Reggie Bullock said. “Me, (Dorian Finney-Smith), Frank (Ntilikina), Tim (Hardaway Jr.) — all of us are going to be ready, because it’s going to be a war zone. They’re bringing their best every night.”
Mobley is averaging 15.1 ppg and 9.5 rpg and is shooting 55.7 percent from the floor, and Allen averages 14.2 ppg and 10.5 rpg and has converted 60.8 percent of his field goal attempts.
Off the bench the Cavs, Caris LeVert averages 12.4 ppg, while veteran Kevin Love is averaging 9.9 ppg and 6.9 rpg and shooting 38.5 percent from downtown in just 20 minutes per game.
“Mobley and Allen down low, it’s going to be a rebounding game,” Bullock said. “They block shots and they can score down there also.
“So it’s going to be a team effort to be able to pull out the win.”
*This is the second of a three-game homestand for the Mavs. The homestand opened with this past Monday’s 121-114 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it’ll end with Friday’s game against Portland before the Mavs start a four-game road trip Saturday in a rematch against the Cavs.
*With 38 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists against the Thunder, Luka Dončić has now recorded 35-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and eight-plus assists in an NBA-high four games this season. Dončić also has scored 20 or more points in 34 consecutive games dating back to last season. That ties the franchise record set by Mark Aguirre, who poured in 20 or more points from Nov. 22, 1983-Feb. 1, 1984).
*Dončić has scored 20-plus points in each of his first 25 games this year. That’s the 15th longest streak to begin a season in NBA history. Dončić is the first player to open a season tallying 20 or points more in 25 or more consecutive games since James Harden in 2017-18.
*The Mavs made 22 three-pointers against OKC. That’s the fourth time they’ve converted 20 or more three-pointers in a game this season. They’re 7-0 under coach Jason Kidd when that happens, including 4-0 this season.
*Tim Hardaway Jr. has converted five-plus three-pointers in six of his past eight games, including six on Monday against the Thunder. Over the past eight games Hardaway is averaging 20.2 ppg.
*Those 20 points and 10 assists Spencer Dinwiddie collected against OKC on Monday was the first time he’s picked up a double-double since the Mavs acquired him from the Washington Wizards in the middle of last season. In the last five games Dinwiddie is averaging 19.2 ppg and shooting 50 percent from beyond the three-point arc.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (17-11) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (14-13)
When: 8 p.m., Wednesday
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: Bally Sports Southwest
Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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