Mavericks at Spurs
It has been a long time since a matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs appeared to be so one-sided, but that's the case as the longtime rivals meet for the first time this season Monday in San Antonio. The Mavericks have lost five straight games - including a 95-87 setback at Orlando on Saturday - while averaging 81.2 points and do not figure to break out anytime soon with injuries to several key players.
In addition, they have games against the streaking Spurs, the NBA-leading Los Angeles Clippers and the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers this week. Dallas hopes to have forward Dirk Nowitzki (Achilles) and guards Deron Williams (calf) and Devin Harris (toe) back this week, some of them perhaps as soon as Monday. Anyone could help an ultra-thin roster that now has to contend with a Spurs unit that has won five in a row after a 116-107 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. All five starters reached double figures, led by LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard (23 points apiece).
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV, FSN Southwest (Dallas, San Antonio)
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (2-10): The big story in the loss to Orlando was the breakout performance of guard Jonathan Gibson (26 points), who was let go in training camp but signed last week amid the team's rash of injuries. The 29-year-old rookie hit 5-of-9 from 3-point range and chipped in six rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals in 32 outstanding minutes off the bench. Fellow reserve rookie Nicolas Brussino has also seen a tiny - and necessary - uptick in playing time and has hit one 3-pointer in each of his last four games.
ABOUT THE SPURS (10-3): San Antonio was 10-of-24 from 3-point range and 18-of-19 from the line in its win over the Lakers and entered Sunday in first place or tied for first in the NBA in both categories (39.4 percent, 84.6 percent). Veteran guard Tony Parker made his three free throws and his lone 3-point try, and he has four straight double-digit scoring efforts after opening the season with five straight games in single digits. After Dallas leaves town, the Spurs will play seven of their next nine on the road, including a visit to the Mavericks on Nov. 30.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. San Antonio has won five straight meetings and 19 of the last 23.
2. Mavericks F Dwight Powell has missed all nine of his shots over the last two contests and is 3-of-24 from the floor over a four-game span.
3. Aldridge is 5-of-8 from beyond the arc and 32-of-34 at the charity stripe in November.