the Dallas Mavericks (15-15) Stay out on the road to play Minnesota Timberwolves (15-15) in a two-play baseball game combination. The Mavericks face off against Wolverhampton on Monday and Wednesday night, then head to Houston on Friday even before the team’s Christmas Day game. Los Angeles Lakers.
Both the Mavericks and the Wolves have underperformed this season relative to expectations. As Dallas was coming off the Western Conference Finals trip, the Wolves sold the farm to trade for center Rudy Gobert in hopes of making the jump into the competitive Western Conference.
Here are some thoughts as we wait for the game on Monday night:
Who will actually play for the Mavericks?
The Mavericks injury update on Sunday was pretty ridiculous. Davis Bertans is a questionable due to illness, Luka Doncic is a questionable with a quadruple strain, Tim Hardaway Jr. is a questionable due to an illness, Dwight Powell is a questionable due to a groin contusion. Josh Green is still out with a sprained elbow, Maxi Clipper is still out with a hamstring injury.
It’s probably reasonable to expect Luca to play, even though he didn’t travel with the team to Cleveland. Bertans and Hardaway’s illness issues are hard to predict, and Powell’s injury seemed particularly upsetting.
Once again, it looks like the Mavericks’ lineups might get a little too fluid.
Heart Kimba rides again
The 42nd minute came to Kemba Walker in a match with Dallas desperate for bodies. The last time he played those many minutes happened nearly a year ago, on December 23, 2021 in a Nix loss of processors. In the next several games after that, Walker hit the ball poorly. After so much time, it’s not fair for anyone to expect repeat great performances from Walker, but perhaps if Luka Doncic plays alongside Spencer Dinwiddie, he can fill the secondary playmaker role the Mavericks desperately need.
Is Christian Wood going to start?
Wood’s made two starts this year, each without Luka Doncic playing. Take note of tough guy and head coach Jason Kidd It looks open To start Wood after his good game against the Cavaliers. It really is one of those things that really needs to happen. Look at these stats from Matt Moore of the Action Network.
The Mavericks are better at net-rating when Wood is next to Luka than when Luka is without Wood. They are better at *defending* when Wood plays with Luca than when he plays without him.
It’s not about the engagement or what Wood does or doesn’t do. This is what happens. pic.twitter.com/vKZY5YU9mm
– Hardwood bout (HPbasketball) December 18, 2022
Wood-Luka works. It can drive you crazy, it may seem unsustainable, but Dallas has to figure out how to get through the regular season with this roster and then spot the playoffs when they get there.
Lucca woodwork.
– Hardwood bout (HPbasketball) December 18, 2022
Wood and Luka work together. It’s true that the special sauce is that Josh Green is also getting minutes, but the Mavericks need a spark and getting off to a good start will really help the Mavericks, especially with how bad they struggle on the road.
How do you watch
This game will be on Bally Sports SouthWest at 7:00 PM CST.