Hawks at Mavericks
It is safe to say the Dallas Mavericks have left their 3-8 start to the season well behind, now that they sit in eighth place in the Western Conference and are three games above .500 entering Wednesday’s home game against the Atlanta Hawks. Dallas is 11-3 since its slow start, winning for the fourth time in five games Monday with a 101-76 home rout of Orlando with a rookie leading the way – but not standout rookie Luka Doncic.
Guard Jalen Brunson scored a season-high 17 points in the victory, while rookie-of-the-year candidate Doncic finished with 11 rebounds and nine assists – both season highs – while scoring just seven points, 10 below his season average. “He’s more seasoned than you expect out of a guy in their first year,” Dallas guard Wesley Matthews told the media in describing the rookie Brunson, a two-time NCAA champion at Villanova. “He’s stepped into the opportunity well.” The Hawks have won just six games all season, but beat Denver 106-98 on Saturday at home to snap a four-game losing streak as forward John Collins scored a career-high 30 points. “The future is very bright for John,” Atlanta guard Kent Bazemore told reporters afterward.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Southeast (Dallas)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (6-20): Collins missed the start of the season with a left ankle injury, but the second-year player is averaging 24.8 points across his past four contests. Rookie point guard Trae Young, who the Hawks acquired from Dallas for Doncic in a draft-night trade, averages 15.4 points and is 10th in the league in assists (7.2). Guard Vince Carter, one month shy of his 42nd birthday, has scored 13 points off the bench in his past two games on 9-of-17 shooting.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (14-11): Doncic, the Western Conference rookie of the month for October/November, averages 17.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Brunson, filling in for Dennis Smith Jr. (right wrist sprain) made his second consecutive start Monday and reached double figures in scoring for the third straight game. Center DeAndre Jordan ranks third in the NBA in rebounds per game (13.6).
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Atlanta has won 10 straight games against the Mavericks, including a 111-104 victory at Dallas on Oct. 24.
2. The Mavericks won their past 10 home games, their longest home winning streak since 2007-08.
3. Several Hawks will miss Wednesday’s game with various injuries including G Jeremy Lin (lower back strain) and G Taurean Prince (left ankle sprain).