The rematch between the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets appeared destined to be a must-see clash several weeks ago.
That outlook has been altered, but with two teams trending in opposite directions, there could be notable fallout from Tuesday night’s game when the Hornets host the Mavericks.
There won’t likely be a repeat of the rookie showdown with Dallas forward Cooper Flagg and Charlotte guard Kon Knueppel. Flagg has been out for three weeks with a foot sprain.
The Hornets will aim for a five-game winning streak as they have climbed in the standings with four straight double-digit wins to build momentum.
“The crowd is gradually getting louder and louder,” Charlotte forward Miles Bridges said. “Every win, we’re getting closer to the postseason. The fans are showing up for us and we’re feeling the love.”
Brandon Miller has led Charlotte in scoring in three straight games, averaging 27.3 points in those outings. Coby White, in his first home game for the Hornets, scored 20 points in Saturday’s 109-93 win over Portland.
“We’re trying to make him comfortable here on this team,” Bridges said. “We’re happy to have him.”
Charlotte won 123-121 on Jan. 29 in Dallas despite Flagg’s 49 points, which are the most for any Mavericks player this season. Knueppel racked up 34 points on the winning side that night.
The former Duke players combined to shoot 30-for-45 from the field in that game.
Dallas is in a horrible slide, with three consecutive losses compounding the problems. The Mavericks have won just two of 15 games since a Jan. 22 victory over Golden State.
The Hornets have lost only three games since that date as part of their 14-3 surge. As a bonus, the Charlotte roster seems to be back in good order after fluctuating because of suspensions and injuries.
“It’s always great to have a fully healthy team,” coach Charles Lee said. “We have great depth right now.”
Aside from Flagg’s potential absence, the Mavericks could be without guard Klay Thompson. He exited Sunday’s 100-87 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder with a right adductor contusion.
Dallas has had a different player as its leading scorer in each of the past five games, including a season-high 18 points from Caleb Martin last time out
“I thought Caleb was aggressive,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “… The more minutes he gets, his confidence rises.”
Martin has been well-traveled in the NBA since beginning his career with the Hornets in 2019.
The Mavericks are trying to get their personnel clicking.
Khris Middleton scored four points Sunday, his lowest total in eight games since joining from the Washington Wizards in the Anthony Davis trade. Still, he can influence the team even without putting up a lot of points.
“Him being a vet in our locker room is something that I seek out for sure,” Dallas guard Max Christie said. “Something that I continue to observe and just watch and see how someone of his caliber really goes about his business.”
Kidd said Middleton can be a factor for the team down the stretch of the schedule.
“We’ll try not to play him 40 minutes a night,” Kidd said. “But I think his ability as a vet to score and to lead is something that’s needed in that locker room.”
