The NBA world is still reeling from the Dallas Mavericks’ shocking trade of star guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, with several other pieces involved. The initial reaction and results have been far from positive, as the Mavericks suffered a humiliating 144-101 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers in their first game post-trade.

The Mavericks are now on a five-game road trip and hope to silence the doubters in their next matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. The trade has been widely criticized, and the team’s performance has only added fuel to the fire.
Philadelphia, on the other hand, is dealing with injuries to key players Joel Embiid and Paul George. Despite these setbacks, Tyrese Maxey has been a standout performer, leading the team with 34 points in their recent game against the Boston Celtics. The Sixers will be looking to bounce back after a tough loss to the Celtics, who rallied from a 26-point deficit to win 118-110.
The Mavericks, who have lost 13 of their last 19 games, are tied for ninth in the Western Conference standings and will need to find a way to rebound from their recent defeat and the overall shock of the trade. They will also face the Boston Celtics at the end of their road trip.