On Monday night, the Dallas Mavericks embark on a trip to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bulls in an inter-conference showdown.
With a 36-28 record, the Mavericks currently occupy eighth place in the tight Western Conference playoff race.
Meanwhile, the Bulls, with a 31-33 record, are in ninth place, which puts them in a position to make a playoff run for the second consecutive season if the season were to conclude today.
Mavs Seek Consistency
The Mavericks have experienced fluctuations in performance since the All-Star break, alternating between consecutive winning streaks and losing streaks. They are currently eight games above a .500 record, with a 5-5 record in their last 10 games.
In their recent performance on Saturday, the Mavericks earned their second consecutive victory with a resounding 142-124 win over the Detroit Pistons, bouncing back from a three-game losing streak.
Once again, Luka Doncic led the charge for the Mavericks, accomplishing a remarkable feat as the first player in the NBA to record six consecutive 30-point triple-doubles.
Doncic's standout performance included 39 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. Although Kyrie Irving contributed 21 points, the focus remained on the prolific Doncic.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd praised Doncic, highlighting his multifaceted contributions on the court.
The Mavericks are currently locked in a competitive battle to avoid the playoff round in the Western Conference, trailing just one game behind the sixth-place Phoenix Suns.
Offensively, the Mavericks rank sixth in scoring, 12th in field goal percentage and 12th in three-point shooting. They rank third in the NBA in three-point shots made per game.
However, on defense, the Mavericks face challenges, ranking 24th in scoring defense, 20th in field goal shooting defense and 19th in three-point defense.
In total rebounds per game, they rank 25th, but stand out in limiting turnovers, ranking third in losses per game.
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📻 97.1 FM and 99.1 FM pic.twitter.com/9AmjpTnofq- Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) March 11, 2024
Bulls Still Hit With Injuries
Playoff aspirations drive the Bulls as they navigate a season marred by significant injuries, currently two games below 50%. Ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference, they are in contention for a spot in the play-in games.
The team's recent performance, with a 5-5 record in the last 10 games, includes a setback with a 112-102 loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles. Despite leading for much of the game, the Bulls faltered in the final quarter, shooting a poor 5-18 from the field.
DeMar DeRozan showcased his prowess with 24 points and 10 assists, complemented by Nikola Vucevic's contribution of 22 points and 11 rebounds.
The loss ends a streak of three consecutive wins for the Bulls. Reflecting on the performance, head coach Billy Donovan emphasized the team's strong start in the first half but acknowledged challenges in the third quarter, citing turnovers and struggles at the basket.
Back at home after an impressive 3-1 streak on the West Coast, the Bulls remain within reach of teams like the Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers in the standings.
Offensive statistics rank 24th in the NBA in points per game, 23rd in field goal percentage and 19th in three-point percentage.
They rank 25th in three-pointers made per game. Defensively, the Bulls rank 13th in scoring defense, 11th in field goal shooting defense and 16th in three-point defense.
It is noteworthy that they rank 16th in total rebounds per game and are second in fewest turnovers per game.
