Rust?

The first few games after the All-Star break are always interesting as players may come back showing a little bit of rust. For Dallas, starting off slow really isn’t an option with just how tight the Western Conference playoff race is. The Mavericks currently sit 8th in the West at 18-16 after fighting their way back into the picture following a slow, disappointing start.

The Spurs? They’re currently the 7th seed at 18-14, hence why tonight’s game is so important for both teams. San Antonio has played better than just about everyone thought they would so far this season, led by veteran DeMar DeRozan, Dejounte Murray, and Keldon Johnson.

Second Half Schedule

The Mavericks open the second half of the season with very winnable games against San Antonio tonight and Oklahoma City tomorrow. After that, Dallas hits a tough stretch against playoff teams. The five games following the OKC game tomorrow include: at Nuggets, vs. Clippers (twice), and at Trail Blazers (twice).

So, the importance of tonight and tomorrow’s games cannot be overshadowed as every single game matters going forward if the Mavericks want to solidify not just a playoff spot but an attempt to avoid the play-in games.

Luka’s Shooting

It’s noted just how slow Luka started the season from a shooting standpoint. That shot looked nearly broken the first few weeks of the season. But, as we stand now, Doncic is shooting 35.7% from downtown, which at the start of the season, Luka reaching this mark would’ve been a dream. In February alone, Luka shot 43.5% from three.

If Luka can match that same consistency from deep in the second half of the season, it’s only up from here for Dallas.