With the NBA Cup out of the way, we are now back to our regularly scheduled programming of Dallas Mavericks basketball. The Mavericks (10-17) managed a split of their freshly assigned NBA Cup games, beating the Brooklyn Nets by eight before falling to the Utah Jazz on Monday by a 140-133 final. Awaiting the Mavericks to kick off their holiday stretch run is none other than the best team in the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons (21-5).
What can the Mavericks do to combat the best team in the East?
Here’s a few things you should know before tipoff.
Lessons learned?
The Mavericks played Detroit in Mexico City earlier this year, losing by the final of 122-110. Detroit outscored Dallas by eighteen in the fourth quarter of that game to pull away, led by Jalen Duren’s monster 33 point, 11 rebound performance to compliment DFW’s own Cade Cunningham, who had 21 points, six boards and eighteen (!!) assists. The Mavericks defense has not gotten any better since then, but the potential return of Anthony Davis could help neutralize Duren. As for Cunningham…
Cade Cunningham has taken the next step
The Bowie High School (That’s Arlington’s Bowie High, for those out of the DFW Area) product has taken the leap that you would’ve hoped he would have by now. Last year was a coming out party for Cade, who was finally surrounded by real shooters for the first time in his career. He paid that off by getting the Pistons into the NBA Playoffs for the first time in a long time, pushing the Knicks to the brink before falling in six games. With a new supporting cast in tow, Cunningham has only carried Detroit to the best record in the East by averaging 27 points, six boards and over nine assists per contest. He’s not quite in the Luka Doncic zip code on stats, but he’s at least in the ballpark of what Doncic has done for his career. Detroit’s success is a testament to the work Cunningham has done and the job that their front office and coach JB Bickerstaff have done to surround him with complimentary pieces.
Cooper’s here
Rookie sensation Cooper Flagg is absolutely hauling the load for the Mavericks these days. Ever since the insertion of fellow rookie Ryan Nembhard into the starting unit, Flagg has been freed up to play his game. It’s paying off to the tune of an eight game average of 24.1 points per game, along with six boards and nearly five helpers per game. Just a reminder, folks: This is the worst it’s ever going to look. And to think some of you were panicking over his start to the season.
Performing as an underdog
The Mavericks are 12-7 against the spread as underdogs this season, with six outright wins. As the season has progressed, it seems the Mavericks are very liable to play up and down to their competition. They have won games against Houston and Denver, something not many teams have to their name. They’ve also lost to the Wizards, Pelicans and Clippers, also something not many teams are able to say! We’ll see if that trend holds against the Pistons.
How to watch
The game will tip just after 7:30p CT on Mavs TV, KFAA Channel 29 or NBA League Pass from the American Airlines Center.
