Heat, Mavericks Rookies Featured in NBA Christmas Slate

Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Dallas center Dereck Lively II will both be featured in tonight’s late Christmas slate.

To this point in the 2023-24 NBA regular season, Miami forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Mavericks center Dereck Lively have been two of the best rookies in the league.

And both will be featured in tonight’s Christmas Day NBA slate, with the Heat-Sixers tipping off at 6:30 p.m. CT and Mavericks-Suns starting at 9 p.m. CT.

After frequenting NBA trade talks this offseason as a piece that the Heat could potentially ship out for Damian Lillard, Jaquez has been a revelation in Miami. He’s slowly but surely worked his way into reliance, averaging 13.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 51% overall.

Drafted at No. 18, it’s safe to say Miami has seen great return on investment for the former UCLA product, whose managed to impact nearly all facets of the game for the sixth-ranked Heat squad.

Against the Sixers, he’ll undoubtedly continue to have a prominent role.

Lively has seen similar impact for the Mavericks, slotting in the starting five spot to much aplomb.

In 23 games this season, Lively has averaged just shy of nine points, tacking on 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while shooting a blistering 73% overall.

Dallas has seen similar success — ranking No. 6 in the Western Conference — but there’s still a silver lining to be had with Lively’s emergence as a strong option next to Doncic.

Similarly to Jaquez, Lively is sure to play a major role tonight in helping the Mavericks fend off the sliding Suns.

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