Spurs at Mavericks
THE STORY: The Dallas Mavericks have been battling injuries to several of their key players. The most important of those players is expected to return when the Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday. Dirk Nowitzki has missed the last four games due to knee and conditioning issues and is averaging just 17.5 points - his lowest mark since 1999-2000. While their star will be back in the lineup, the Mavericks are unsure of the availability of Jason Kidd, who left Friday’s win over the Utah Jazz in the first quarter with a strained right calf. The Spurs are no strangers to injury-related absence, with Manu Ginobili and T.J. Ford on the shelf until the middle of next month. San Antonio is 10-1 at home but has been a different team on the road, averaging 94.2 away from home vs. 102 at the AT&T Center. The Spurs hit a low on Friday with an 87-79 loss at Minnesota.
TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, FSSW
ABOUT THE SPURS (12-8): One of San Antonio’s better efforts of the young season came on Jan. 5, when it dominated the Mavericks in a 93-71 home victory. The Spurs held Nowitzki to six points and limited the Mavericks to 1-of-19 shooting from beyond the arc. That defense has come and gone lately, with San Antonio capable of allowing 102 points to the lowly New Orleans Hornets one night and holding the Atlanta Hawks to 83 to nights later.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (12-8): Dallas is one of the few teams in the league older than San Antonio and has seen several players break down recently, with Vince Carter and Delonte West also missing time. Still, the Mavericks seem to be on a roll. Winners of four of the last five - including three of four without Nowitzki - Dallas can take over first place in the Southwest with a win on Sunday. Rodrigue Beaubois stepped up with 22 points and seven assists in Kidd’s absence on Friday and role players like Shawn Marion and Jason Terry have taken turns leading the charge.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Spurs rookie F Kawhi Leonard has failed to reach double figures in scoring in each of the last six games.
2. Beaubois was held to four points on 1-of-8 shooting in the first meeting.
3. San Antonio has taken four straight and eight of 10 in the series.