Christmas Day has finally passed, gift wrap has been torn open across the world, Christmas dinners have been guzzled down and that five-game slate of holiday hoops has been enjoyed. But for Mavericks fans, the biggest gift under the tree is still lying under the tree’s pines, waiting to be opened.
What’s that gift in that white and blue wrapping you ask? Well, it’s none other than their coveted star atop the Mavs tree named Luka Doncic. He’s back from rehabbing a sprained ankle suffered just 12 days ago on December 14 in a home loss against the Heat. Tonight, they’ll face a familiar foe and in-state adversary in San Antonio in what’s sure to be a tightly-contested battle, for they are hoping to now ascend further in the Western rankings with their biased pick to win this year’s Most Valuable Player award being back on the floor.
Per their slot in the West as of late, the Mavericks are fifth and are 2 1/2 games out of dethroning another in-state rival in the Houston Rockets for that fourth spot in their conference. Houston bemusingly let the Golden State Warriors run rampant on them in the second-half of yesterday’s Christmas day game, which means that a win on their home floor in front of the something-thousand patrons inside the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas will place them in the driver’s seat to secure a promotional, and much-needed spot in the West.
Dallas hasn’t come close to appearing as a liability without Doncic hoisting up and cashing in 30-footers on a nightly occasion, as they’ve managed to uphold the fortress by going 2-2 in their four games with Kristaps Porzingis leading the charge. Before Doncic’s ankle aggravation, the 20-year old was posting up some sickening numbers by averaging 29.3 points per game, 9,6 rebounds and 8.9 assists per contest in just his second stint as an NBA athlete.
As a team, they knocked off the then-streaking Milwaukee Bucks in a game that saw Kristaps Porzingis nearly drop a triple-double with a 26-point, 12-rebound and 6-assist night, and consecutively gave the Sixers their second-straight home loss last week during their Eastern road trip. They then seceded for Christmas break by succumbed to the championship-defending Raptors on the road from an uncharacteristic blowing of a 30-point lead in the second half.
They’re looking to avenge their last loss with a home win over the Spurs, who haven’t quite lived up to the ideals of a stereotypical Gregg Popovich-coached season. Dallas won the first matchup against the Spurs this season via a 117-100 win. Be advised though, it’s only December and it’s only a matter of time until they find their footing, and it’s looking like they’ve done just that in the month of December, winning five of their last nine contests. They sit just three games out of a playoff spot behind the Trail Blazers and are looking to hit a Mavs team hard, as they’re just getting their star in Doncic back into the fray starting tonight.
The second tip-off of the season between the Mavericks and Spurs takes place at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on TNT.
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