Mavericks at Spurs
The Dallas Mavericks look to complete a four-game sweep of San Antonio when they visit the Spurs on Tuesday. Dallas won the first three contests by an average of 5.7 points, including a 109-103 win in San Antonio on Feb. 26.
The Mavericks are entering a stretch in which five of their next seven games are on the road and they missed out on the chance to sweep a three-game homestand by falling 112-109 to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. "We struggled to get good looks - we did get a couple of looks," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said afterward. "It's just execution, and I've got to do a better job. We just got to do better, and as the coach it's my job to facilitate that." San Antonio's playoff hopes took another hit Sunday when it dropped a 132-129 overtime road decision against the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers for its 10th loss in the past 14 contests. "We started out poorly like we've been doing too much," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters afterward. "It was a great effort again. I'm really proud of how they hung in on the road, got back in the game and had a chance to win."
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: TNT, Sportsnet One
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (39-26): Star point guard Luka Doncic scored 36 points and shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. tallied 30 against the Pacers but power forward Kristaps Porzingis struggled to nine points on 3-of-17 shooting. "I wasn't getting many open looks," Porzingis, who had 38 points against Indiana on Feb. 3, told reporters. "I give credit to them for doing a better job this game, but it's also on me missing good shots." Porzingis averaged 30 points over the previous five games and had scored 24 or more in 11 of 13 contests prior to the subpar performance.
ABOUT THE SPURS (26-36): San Antonio is five games behind the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and is in danger of missing the playoffs after being part of the festivities in 22 consecutive seasons. Popovich said the effort has been solid and the resolve has remained high despite the club being in an uncustomary position. "A lot of people would have cashed it in, because the expectations were high this year after having a really good year last year," Popovich said. "So far, we haven't achieved that level. So that's frustrating, but they haven't let that affect their effort and their will to win."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Porzingis is averaging 19.7 points and 10 rebounds against the Spurs this season.
2. San Antonio PF LaMarcus Aldridge (shoulder) will likely miss his seventh straight game.
3. Dallas backup SG Seth Curry (ankle) could miss his second straight game.