Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks (39-25) are currently 7th in the Western Conference standings, 7 wins ahead of the 8th place Memphis Grizzlies. Dallas has won 7 of its last 10 games, averaging 116 points per game. The Dallas Mavericks have also won 4 consecutive home games and will be looking for their 5th consecutive home win in this game.

After the team's leading scorer Luka Doncic (28.4 points, 8.7 assists) suffered minor injuries that forced him to miss a few games, the Mavericks' play began to stagnate, which has led to the team currently sitting in 7th place in the Conference. The Mavericks were 4-5 before Doncic's injury, but now that the whole team is ready to play again, it is very likely that the Mavericks will fight for a better position.

The Mavericks' biggest advantage is that they have a clear leader who can not only take the initiative at the right time, but also create opportunities for his teammates. Porzingis, who also missed the season due to injury, was a bit shaky at the start of the season, but is slowly getting a feel for the game and is becoming a serious threat in every game. So the Mavericks with this duo are a dangerous opponent for anyone, but that is only part of the team's strength. The Dallas Mavericks bench is one of the longest in the league, with 4-5 more players coming off the bench to help decide the game.

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers (38-25) are currently 5th in the Eastern Conference standings, 2 wins behind the 4th place Philadelphia 76ers. The Pacers have had a very turbulent season indeed, partly due to the return of their nominal team leader Oladipo from a serious injury. Without him, the Pacers started the season well and stayed in the top four of the Eastern Conference, but Oladipo's return was followed by a downward spiral of defeat after defeat. This is partly understandable, as Oladipo's return knocked other players out of the rotation and it took time for the team to get back on track. Nevertheless, it was done, and the Pacers are currently enjoying 7 wins in their last 9 games, which shows the team's excellent form.

It's also nice that D. Sabonis has not lost his role with the return of V. Oladipo. He is still the team's core player, on whose court vision and individual skill the combinations are built in every attack. Sabonis is averaging 18.3 points, 12.4 rebounds and 5 assists per game, and if he continues to do so, he can expect a solid contract in the future.

Will miss this match

Indiana Pacers: J. Lamb (OUT), M. Brogdon (OUT), D. McDermott (GTD), V. Oladipo (GTD), T.J. Warren (GTD);

Dallas Mavericks: D. Powell (OUT), J. Brunson (OUT), S. Curry (OUT), T. Hardaway (GTD).

Forecast

Both teams have been improving their form lately, but the Mavericks are the clear favourites for this meeting. Although Doncic is back in the Mavericks rotation, it would be hard to expect the Mavericks to be able to overwhelm the Pacers, who are playing pretty solid on the road. This game should be tough until the last minute, so every extra point in the advantage on offer is worth something.

Dallas Mavericks - Indiana Pacers, 2020/03/09 NBA