The Brooklyn Nets (4-6) have won two straight and will hit the road to face the Dallas Mavericks (5-3) on the 8th. Durant will have to continue to drive the team with his all-around play and he will need more support from teammates like Claxton, Thomas and O’Neal as the Nets try to make it three in a row. With the Mavericks having won three straight, Doncic will have to continue his dominance and the likes of Dinwiddie and Wood will have to contribute as the Mavs look to sweep the Bucks for the season.
Doncic PK Durant
Durant scored 27 points and had 8 rebounds as he led his team to a late turnaround in a 98-94 win over the Hornets. The win gives the Nets their second straight win, and they are looking for a third straight win in Dallas. The Nets want to avoid being swept by their rivals, as they already lost to the Mavericks at home.
Durant has scored a total of 55 points in the past two games, and he has helped the team tremendously on the offensive end. With Irving continuing to be suspended and Simmons missing due to injury, Durant still has to take on the leadership burden alone, and he has to lead the team with a great offensive performance.
Durant is averaging 31.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game this season. He has scored less than 30 points in the past two games, but he is contributing more to the team in other areas, and he is trying to drive his teammates around him.
With Irving suspended, the rest of the Bucks’ players are getting more opportunities to help the team on the offensive end. Clarkston scored 29 points in the last two games, and he was very efficient on the offensive end.
When it comes to the Mavericks, Clarkston will have to stay athletic to pound the opponent. The Mavericks have Powell, McGee and Wood inside, which will be a test for Claxton.
O’Neal, Thomas and Yuta Watanabe have all had solid performances in the two-game winning streak. Thomas, who has scored 38 points in two games, has been given more opportunities to show his talents on the offensive end, and all he has to do is continue that form and to bring firepower to support Durant.
Yuta Watanabe has been one of the team’s bright spots in the past two games, coming off the bench and always giving the team the help they need – hitting open threes and being aggressive on the glass – and all he has to do is continue that form to help the team. O’Neal has also become a strong helper for Durant, and although his touch is not consistent, he can find other ways to help the team. Harris and Curry are back, and if they and Mills can find their touch from the outside, the Nets will be more competitive.
The Mavericks got their 3rd straight win and have won 4 of their last 5 games with a close 111-110 home win over the Raptors on the 5th. The Mavericks are currently ranked 6th in the West and stay at home to face the short-handed Nets, who will have to stay strong to hit their 4-game winning streak and try to sweep their opponents for the season. Doncic scored 35 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals in the last game, averaging 36 points, 8.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game for the season, and he brings great help to the team in the offensive end. When they meet the Nets, Doncic will have to continue his offensive form as he will have to put more pressure on the opponent’s defense. In the last meeting with the Nets, Doncic gave a performance of 41 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists.
In addition to Doncic’s good form, the Mavericks also need others to play better, like Dinwiddie and Wood to bring support on the offensive end. Dinwiddie is averaging 17.3 points and 4.3 assists per game this season, and he is the other organizational core of the team that has to be on the floor for Doncic to share his worries.
Woody is averaging 16.8 points and 8 rebounds per game this season, and as a key scorer off the bench, he and Hardaway have to drive the performance of the team’s bench. Smith and Bullock will have to work hard to take advantage of open shots, and they will have to give the team firepower support from the outside.
On the bench the Mavericks also have Green, Kleber and others who will have to work hard to bring contributions as well.
On October 28, 2022, the Mavericks defeated the Nets 129-125 in overtime, and they have beaten the Nets 2 times in a row. In the last 6 meetings between the two teams, the Mavericks are 5-1, with the Nets’ only win coming on Dec. 8, 2021, when they defeated the Mavericks 102-99 on the road. The win ended the Nets’ 3-game losing streak when they visited Dallas.
Projected starting lineups for both teams.
Nets: Sumner, Harris, Durant, O’Neal, Claxton
Mavericks: Doncic, Dinwiddie, Bullock, Smith, Powell
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