We've seen what a full Mavericks lineup can do, and it's a different team. In the Houston win, Irving had 35 points and 9 assists and Cooper Flagg added 33 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. That 2-man game is why Dallas won 3 straight between its 2 home losses. Without Irving against the Kings, the offense fell apart: 7-for-33 from 3 and outscored 61-47 after halftime by a Sacramento team that came in winless.
San Antonio's run hasn't been a one-man show, even if it sometimes looks like one. Dylan Harper scored 25 and De'Aaron Fox 22 in the Minnesota win, and Julian Champagnie gave them 12 off the bench. Still, Wembanyama took 34 shots in that game, only 3 fewer than the other 4 starters combined. That's what makes the Spurs dangerous, and it's also something a good defense can try to take away. Dallas can't, though, without Lively on the floor.
The Spurs aren't fully healthy either. Tobias Harris (calf) has been out for weeks and Jayden Quaintance still hasn't been cleared for basketball activities. Both teams get one day of rest after Monday's games, so neither has a schedule edge. Tipoff is 8:30 PM CT at Frost Bank Center. The thing to watch between now and then is whether Irving's knee lets him play. If he does, Dallas has the guard play to give San Antonio a real game. If he doesn't, Flagg has to beat Wembanyama mostly by himself.
