CHARLOTTE, NC – The Dallas Mavericks (2-0) are hitting the road for their third game of a four game preseason schedule against the Charlotte Hornets (1-2) before the regular season starts October 28.
The Mavericks are looking good this preseason under new head coach Jason Kidd. They have won both of their first two preseason games, one of which to the LA Clippers who took round one of the NBA Playoffs against the Mavs.
Luke Doncic has only played the first two half of those games and has already racked up 33 points, 14 rebounds, 14 assists (13-21 FG, 4-9 3s, 3-4 FT). Doncic was also the leading scorer in the Mavs first game against the Utah Jazz with 19 points and didn’t even touch the court the second half.
The Mavericks will look to Doncic in the game against the Hornets to make clutch plays as Dallas’s superstar. Doncic is one of the highest scoring players in the league and is the highest scorer under the age of 25.
At 22-years-old Doncic has become one of the best NBA players and he will be the playmaker in the game against the Hornets.
Kristaps Porzingis is also looking quite different than last season, he says it’s because he and J Kidd have an understanding and he has a green line to get off the box and be more involved in the offense. Porzingis and Euguene Omoruyi combined for 36 points in the Mavs second game against the LA Clippers.
With Doncic and Porzingis healthy and the help of a talented bench, the Mavs should have no issues in Wednesday’s game against the Hornets.
The probable starters for tomorrow’s game are G Luka Doncic, F Kristaps Porzingis, G Tim Hardaway Jr., F Josh Green, and C Dwight Powell.
The Hornets have lost two of their three preseason games and are led by Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball, and James Bouknight.
Ball is coming off of a 2020-21 Rookie of Year Award season and is starting off on the right foot. He had 19 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists in their matchup against the Miami Heat yesterday. The Hornets came up short to the heat by one point.
The matchup between these two teams will be televised on ESPN and Bally Sports SE-CHA at 5:30 p.m.
