It was about this time final yr when the Dallas Mavericks pushed their chips to the middle of the desk and traded for Kyrie Irving. They have been in the midst of the pack within the Western Convention playoff race on the commerce deadline, and thought that including one other celebrity alongside Luka Dončić would make them into legit championship contenders.
Mavericks Have Each Stars Obtainable vs. 76ers
🚨 Kyrie Irving (thumb) and Luka Doncic (ankle) have each been upgraded to AVAILABLE for the Mavs’ matchup with the Sixers tonight, per @espn_macmahon.
Tonight will probably be simply the twenty third trip of fifty video games that they’ve performed collectively this season. pic.twitter.com/XXXLoLw46g
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 5, 2024
The alternative occurred. Dallas went the unsuitable course within the standings, ultimately lacking out on the playoffs totally, and entered one more low season stuffed with questions. That they had a call to make about Irving’s future with the franchise, however opted to carry him again on a 3-year deal, hoping they may flip final yr’s misfortunes round.
They’ve been higher than common to date this yr, at the moment sitting with a document of 26-23 and in eighth place within the West. However they’ve misplaced 7 of their final 10, and can probably be wanting so as to add some firepower on the deadline that’s developing this week.
Maybe one of many the explanation why they haven’t carried out higher is the dearth of time that the 2 stars share on the court docket. Each gamers have been listed as lively for Monday’s sport towards the 76ers after being questionable main up, and it’ll mark simply the twenty third time that Irving and Doncic have been on the ground on the identical time via the crew’s first 50 video games.
Simply 23 Video games Collectively For Irving & Doncic
Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic have each been upgraded to accessible vs. the 76ers tonight. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/9OJWQV8DEg
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBet) February 5, 2024
It has been Irving who has been the wrongdoer for lacking video games. He has had two prolonged absences over the primary three months of the season, together with 12 video games within the month of December, and has missed the final six video games for the Mavericks as properly.
The schedule for Dallas softens up a bit over the subsequent couple of weeks, which might bode properly for a possible commerce and definitely for rising within the standings. The 76ers will in fact be with out Joel Embiid tonight, and the Mavericks are listed as a street underdog. They’ll tackle the likes of the Nets, Wizards, and Spurs between now and Valentine’s Day, however have powerful video games towards the Thunder and Knicks sandwiched in between.
On the yr, Doncic is averaging 34.8 factors per sport, the second-highest mark within the league behind solely Embiid. Irving’s numbers are down barely throughout the board, however he has seen a dip in his minutes this season as properly.
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