The Dallas Mavericks host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night, and the stakes are high for both sides. Brooklyn is desperate for a win after letting a game slip away against Atlanta. The Nets out-rebounded the Hawks by 13 points on Saturday but lost 124-121 because they could not grab rebounds in the final two minutes. A Dallas squad aiming to make the postseason for the first time in years now confronts them. The Mavericks hope their roster talent is enough to get the job done.
Kyrie Irving’s New Scoring Game
After an ACL tear caused him to miss last season, Kyrie Irving has returned to play. While his shooting metrics stay robust, he is posting 21 points per night on average. Fans see a somewhat different approach in how he is currently scoring his buckets. The proportion of his field goal attempts from inside three feet has reached a career low. Conversely, his three-point shooting rate has climbed to the highest level of his career. When his game is firing, this stylistic change creates a magnetic scorer that is fun to watch.
Brooklyn will try to slow him down, but Irving remains a huge problem for any defense. The Mavericks need to contain him if they want to keep their momentum going. According to NetsDaily, Irving’s new approach changes how teams have to defend him on every possession.
Brooklyn’s Injury Woes and Back-to-Back Grind
The Nets are dealing with a tough back-to-back schedule that has them traveling from Atlanta to Dallas. This is especially challenging for a young team that needs rest. Egor Dëmin is out for Brooklyn with a right bone bruise. Mikel Brown Jr. is also out due to the back-to-back fatigue. Without Brown Jr.Nolan Traoré deserves every minute he can possibly receive.
Traoré continues to shine for the Nets. In just 22 minutes versus Atlanta, the sophomore guard recorded 19 points and a career-best five steals. He did not play in the fourth quarter of that game, so he will be fresh for this one. Dallas also has injury issues to manage. Tarik Biberovic is out with a right heel bursitis, and Dereck Lively II is out following right foot surgery. Sergio de Larrea is also out with a right knee sprain.
The game tips off at 7:30 PM EST at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Fans can watch the action on the YES Network, DAZN, or NBA League Pass. According to NetsDaily, the Mavericks aim to reach the playoffs again after several years.
