On Saturday night, the Dallas Mavericks will host the defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers at American Airlines Center.
Three days earlier, Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 14-point, road win over the Washington Wizards 113-99. In that game, which was only the team’s second win of the season, rookie point guard Dennis Smith Jr. and forward Harrison Barnes combined for 53 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists.
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are in an unfamiliar position. LeBron James and company are 5-7 and 11th in the weak Eastern Conference. Going into this season, Cleveland was thought to be a favorite to once again reach the NBA Finals and they’ll probably still get there.