The Cleveland Cavaliers will take on the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, December 27. The Mavericks are coming off an impressive win on Christmas Day, where Luka Doncic scored 50 points against the Phoenix Suns. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, are trying their best to deal with a difficult stretch, with several key players missing due to injuries. Cleveland will likely rely on its willpower and physicality to remain competitive in games.
Preview
The Cavaliers will head into their game against the Mavericks without Darius Garland, Ty Jerome and Evan Mobley. Caris LeVert and Donovan Mitchell are still questionable, while Sam Merrill is doubtful. With many key players absent, the Cavaliers will have a difficult time facing the Mavericks’ offense. However, Dallas is dealing with some injury issues of its own. Kyrie Irving, Josh Green and Maxi Kleber are also out, while Doncic is still questionable.
Both teams’ lineup
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ starting lineup includes Craig Porter Jr., Max Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Dean Wade and Jarrett Allen. Without Garland, the Cavaliers will lack playmaking. They will have to rely on Allen’s rim running and Max Strus spacing. The Dallas Mavericks’ starting lineup includes Dante Exum, Luka Doncic, Derrick Jones Jr., Tim Hardaway Jr. and Derek Lively II. Doncic is having a great season and is a candidate for the MVP award.
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Luka Doncic is averaging 33.5 points per game this season. In his last 10 games, “El Matador” has averaged 37.4 points, so the Cavaliers will have to work their way out to stop his scoring. If Donovan Mitchell is cleared to play, he will have odds of -115 to score over 30.5 points and -115 to score under. Mitchell is averaging 27.7 points per game and will be the Cavaliers’ primary offensive option.
Prediction
The Mavericks will enter the game against the Cavaliers as favorites to secure the victory. Most of the reason behind this is the uncertainty of Donovan Mitchell, but also the absence of Darius Garland. With Luka Doncic on their side, the Mavericks will be in a better position to deal with Kyrie Irving’s absence. They should have more than enough offense to overcome Cleveland’s defense and potentially add another win to their season.
