CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA — The Dallas Mavericks game on Monday against the Pelicans was cancelled due to contact tracing and NBA Covid-19 protocols and the team has not been able to practice since last Saturday. 3 players are still quarantining in Denver and Dallas has been without Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell who both entered Covid-19 protocol following their win last weekend. Semi-good news Kristaps Porzingis will make his season debut tonight, but it is still unclear if he will have minute restrictions. No news has been released as to which of the players tested positive for Covid-19 but Dallas will play the Hornets tonight with limited help.
This will be the second time the two teams have matched up this season but will be much different than the first time.
It feels like it was so long ago. Dallas was 1-2 and just came off an historic win against the Clippers where they handed the team their worst loss in franchise history. The trajectory for the Mavericks seemed like it was on the upward, but the Hornets put that to bed quickly and dominated the Mavericks in their first home game of the season 118-99. Rookie Lamelo Ball led the Hornets in scoring with 22 points while racking up 8 rebounds and 5 assists and Miles Bridges scored 20 points. None of the Maverick players broke the 20 point mark in that game and the entire starting lineup finished with a minus performance.
Since then the Mavericks have won 4 out of their last 5 games and are on a 3 game winning streak which is their first win streak of the season. Luka Doncic has hit his groove through the last 5 games averaging 26 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, and hit 11 out of 41 shot attempts from beyond the arc after only hitting 2 three pointers through 3 games to start the season. “The Michigan Boys” Tim Hardaway Jr and Trey Burke have also provided the Mavericks with a much needed boost off the bench. Hardaway Jr has hit the 30 point mark in 2 out of his last 3 games and Burke who was out due to illness during the Nuggets game scored 29 points against the Magic and the two finished with a combined 59 points scored. Both players will be available tonight.
Dallas has a bit of a disadvantage heading into this game tonight since they haven’t been afforded the time to practice this week, but as Rick Carlisle has stated several times about this season, it’s different but adjustments must be made and the Mavericks will give it their all despite the obstacles and will make no excuses about it. The chemistry between this group of players will shine through the adverse circumstance, and if the Mavericks can win tonight, it may be a signature win that will help propel the Mavericks until players who are out due to Covid 19 protocols are available again.
