Game No. 5.
Miami Heat at Mavericks
(6 p.m. Friday, American Airlines Center, Dallas)
TV: Fox Sports Southwest
Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM (Univision 1270 AM, Spanish)
About the Mavericks (1-3): The list of problem areas is long as they head into a challenging game against the longtime rival Heat. The Mavericks haven’t beaten Miami in Dallas since Feb. 27, 2017, having lost six in a row overall to the Heat . . . This will be the only meeting with Miami in the first half of the season. The Mavericks will visit Miami in the second half when that portion of the schedule is released . . . The Mavericks have been the picture of inconsistency. Despite their 1-3 record, they have scored five more points than their four opponents thanks to the 51-point blowout of the LA Clippers on Sunday. Their three losses have been by four, 23 and 19 points . . . Amazingly, their 31.6-percent 3-point shooting is not last in the NBA. There are four teams below them . . . Luka Dončić is the leading culprit at 2-for-21 (9.5 percent), although he’s only one good hot streak from being back to respectability . . . Luka needs eight assists to reach 1,000 for his two-plus seasons . . . Forward Maxi Kleber (left ankle sprain) is listed as questionable . . . After the Heat, the Mavericks will hit the road for three games, starting at Chicago on Sunday . . . The Mavericks, who are 1-3 against the spread this season, are favored by 3½ points.
About the Heat (2-2): They surprised some with their run to the NBA finals last season, losing to the Lakers in six games. But their road to get there proved that they earned it. As the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, they had to beat No. 4-seeded Indiana, No. 1 Milwaukee and No. 3 Boston . . . Jimmy Butler (ankle) has missed the last two games but is listed as probable for Friday’s game . . . The Heat have shot 49.2 percent from the field in the opening four games, fourth-best in the NBA. However, they also have turned the ball over 20.8 times per game, worst in the league . . . Opponents also are shooting 41.9 percent from 3-point range, so if the Mavericks were going to snap out of their long-range shooting funk, this would be a prime opportunity . . . Forward Bam Adebayo, coming off his first all-star appearance last season, is leading the Heat at 19 points and seven rebounds. He also is dishing out five assists per game. He’s also averaging 4.3 turnovers per game . . . Swingman Duncan Robinson is off to a terrific start from 3-point range, hitting 48.7 percent from beyond the arc . . . This is a single-game trip for the Heat, who play five of their first seven at home.
Twitter: @ESefko
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