Last week: Won at Milwaukee 120-116, lost to Boston 109-103, won at Philadelphia 117-98
This week: Sunday at Toronto, Thursday vs. San Antonio, Saturday at Golden State
The Dallas Mavericks won two of three without Luka Doncic last week, going on the road to snap Milwaukee’s 18-game winning streak and blow out Philadelphia around a home loss to the Celtics. Per Cleaning the Glass, Dallas has the top offensive rating in the NBA at 117.0 (garbage time possessions excluded) and also has the lowest turnover rate in the league at 12.7 percent.
The Mavericks needed someone to step up and Kristaps Porzingis has done that so far, averaging 23.7 points, 14.3 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 2.0 assists in 35.8 minutes per game in the three games last week, shooting 47.4 percent overall and hitting 38.1 percent on 7.0 3-point attempts a night. He went for 26 points and 12 boards in the win at Milwaukee.
Last week: Won at Atlanta 101-96, lost at Indiana 105-102, lost at Milwaukee 111-104
This week: Sunday vs. Denver, Wednesday vs. Clippers, Saturday at Portland
The Los Angeles Lakers lost consecutive games for the first time this season en route to a 1-2 week as they closed out a five-game Eastern trip. But the news got worse Saturday, with LeBron James doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Nuggets with a thoracic muscle strain that is reportedly a significant issue, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
With Anthony Davis sidelined, James paced the Lakers to a win at Atlanta on Monday and for the week averaged 24.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.0 blocks in 36.2 minutes per game, shooting 46.7 percent overall and 30.4 percent on 7.7 long-range attempts a game. That included a triple-double with 21 points, 12 boards and 11 dimes at Milwaukee on Thursday.