SUMMARY
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Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks face LeBron James and defending champions Los Angeles Lakers in the feature matchup of 5 NBA Christmas contests on Friday, December 25 (Saturday, December 26, Manila time).
Both players were contenders for the NBA Most Valuable Player award last season and figure to be back in the hunt again in the 2020-21 campaign.
“It’s exciting,” Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said. “It’s a big game playing the champs and when Luka and LBJ match up, it’s always something special.”
James, who turns 36 on Wednesday, has been the face of the NBA for more than a decade, reaching 10 NBA Finals, winning 4 titles, and taking 5 season MVP awards.
But Doncic has drawn rave reviews since being taken with the third overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
He was the 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year and become a versatile playmaker who averaged 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists last season – a signal he could be the face of the NBA a decade from now.
“It’s a long way to go to be one of the faces of the league,” Doncic said.
“But we’re playing the champions. It’s going to be something special. I always wanted to play on Christmas Day.”
Friday’s lineup also includes second-year star Zion Williamson and New Orleans at Miami, Golden State at Milwaukee, Brooklyn at Boston, and the Los Angeles Clippers at Denver.
The NBA announced on Thursday there were two coronavirus positives from among 558 players tested since December 16.
The move came a day after Houston Rockets’ coronavirus issues contributed to postponing their opener against Oklahoma City.
In the Lakers’ opener on Tuesday, James had 20 points and a team-high 8 rebounds, while Anthony Davis scored 35 points in the 114-113 loss to the Clippers.
Doncic scored 32 points on Wednesday, but the Mavs fell 106-102 at Phoenix, the European star going 0-for-6 from 3-point range and dismissing ankle sprain fears while kicking himself for poor shot selection, missing his first 6 of the game.
“That was my bad,” he said. “I’ve got to stop taking these very bad shots. It’s not good for me. It’s not good for the team. I’ve got to change it.”
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle wasn’t too concerned.
“He’s still getting his game legs under him,” Carlisle said. “That will get there. He understands the game as well as any 21-year-old I’ve ever been around. He’ll make the adjustments that are necessary.”
Carlisle’s Christmas Eve plans included examining the Lakers and sorting out what chances the Mavs need to make in their trip to Los Angeles for their first Christmas contest since 2011.
“We’re going to have to do a study on the Lakers, figure out what the best matchups and coverages are going to be for us defensively,” he said.
“That’s the world champs. We’re obviously going to have to play a high-level game.” – Rappler.com
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