Cavs vs. Mavs: Game Preview

The Cavaliers are getting it done at home, improving to 12-2 at RMF with that rally against the Pacers on Friday.

But they need to be careful.

Sometimes, they play down to the level of their competition (everyone does), and the Mavs are coming to town without star guard Luka Doncic, guard Spencer Dinwiddie, center Dwight Powell, wing Josh Green. Forward Maxi Kleber was already out. 

If you don’t know the Mavs, just know that’s about every important player for them. On the bright side, Cavs fans may be able to see a whole lot of Kemba Walker and JaVale McGee. Remember them?

Anyway, for the Cavs, it’s just about showing up, doing the right thing, and hopefully for their sake, not being too tired after that eruption of a fourth quarter vs. Indiana.

It’d be nice, actually, if they could turn this into 48 minutes of garbage time and get the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen some rest.

But this is the NBA, and that rarely happens. Everyone is good, and guys who don’t play much — like the guys you will see on the Mavs on Saturday — go at it extra hard when they do play.

So the Cavs just need to be careful, and take care of business against a lesser opponent at home. They have proven capable of that.

Cavs vs. Mavericks

• RECORDS: Cavs 19-11; Mavs 15-14
• TIPOFF: 7:30 p.m. EST
• LOCATION: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
• TV: Bally Sports Ohio
• INJURIES: Cavs – Lamar Stevens (knee) doubtful; Ricky Rubio (knee) out; Dean Wade (shoulder) out; Dylan Windler (ankle) out. Mavs – Doncic (quad) out; Dinwiddie (knee) out; Green (elbow) out; Kleber (hamstring) out; Powell (thigh) out; Davis Bertans (illness) questionable.

More from Hoops Wire

• Dribbles: Cavs show they know when to hit go mode
• Will Cavs take another big swing ahead of trade deadline?