The Dallas Mavericks are running out of time after their once-promising season took an unexpected turn in recent weeks.
Dallas (36-39), which plays the Indiana Pacers on Monday in an important game in Indianapolis, has lost four straight and seven of its last nine games.
Dallas is 11th in the Western Conference, one loss behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in the play-in tournament race. Later on Sunday night, the Thunder were scheduled to play.
Following the four-time All-Star’s 16th technical foul of the season in Sunday’s 110-104 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, the Mavericks may also be without Luka Doncic. Doncic will be suspended for one game and must miss Monday’s match unless the league office changes the technical.
The Mavericks lost to Charlotte for the second time in three days on Sunday, despite Doncic scoring 40 points. After receiving Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets in a trade, Dallas dropped to 7-13.
Kidd is also closely collaborating with Doncic to rekindle his star’s passion for the game. Doncic talked about his disappointment level after Friday’s misfortune to the Hornets.
The Mavericks will try to get back on track against Indiana (33-42), which has lost five of its last seven games since starting its five-game road trip.
On February 28, Dallas lost its first match against Indiana 124-122. In the defeat, Doncic scored a game-high 39 points, while Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana with 32 points.
With a 143-130 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, the Pacers ended a four-game road trip. Indiana lost three of its four games, falling 3 1/2 games behind the Chicago Bulls for 10th place in the Eastern Conference and the final play-in spot.
One splendid spot in Saturday’s misfortune was the play of third-year master Jordan Nwora, who was procured from the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 9. Nwora finished the game with a season-high 33 points, 25 of which came in the second quarter against Atlanta.
Carlisle has begun to focus more on the future as Indiana’s hopes for a play-in tournament spot diminish. Over the past week, the Pacers have been focusing on the growth of young players like Bennedict Mathurin and Nwora.
Nwora, a forward who stands 6-foot-9, made 12-of-17 shots against Atlanta, including 4-of-7 attempts from three-point range.
Myles Turner, an Indiana center who missed one game because of soreness in his lower back, may be available on Monday. Turner is shooting 54.8 percent from the field and averaging 18 points and 7.5 rebounds.
