Dallas Mavs vs. Toronto Raptors Preview: High-Powered Offense Meets Stingy Defense

After grinding out back-to-back 15-point comeback wins, the Dallas Mavericks return to American Airlines Center on Wednesday in hopes of getting off to a better start against the Toronto Raptors. The Mavs defeated a tough, defensive-minded Orlando Magic squad on Monday night, and the Raptors present similar challenges.

Wednesday's matchup features elite offensive vs. elite defense, as the Mavs hold the fourth-best offensive rating in the league at 119.7, and the Raptors are tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for the fifth-best defensive rating at 107.3. In the past, Toronto's length has given superstar Luka Doncic some trouble, but this is the first time Doncic will face the Raptors while having his co-star Kyrie Irving by his side.

The two stars are coming off great individual performances, as Doncic finished with 29 points on 9-17 shooting in the clutch win over Orlando on Monday, and Irving finished with 21 points, six rebounds, 10 assists and three steals while shooting 8-20 overall. The last time Irving played against the Raptors, he was a member of the Brooklyn Nets and hit a game-winning, buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give his team the win. The Mavs certainly hope Wednesday's contest isn't that close, but given that all of Dallas' six wins have been clutch games, it wouldn't surprise anyone if this one ends up being close.

Kyrie buzzer beater!! pic.twitter.com/fZDppjRhTn
— Real NBA Rumors (@RealNBARumors1) December 17, 2022

Rookie center Dereck Lively II has been a godsend for the Mavs this season, as he's averaging 9.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 77.8 percent, which is good for the second-best overall efficiency in the league next to Charlotte Hornets' Mark Williams. Lively occasionally gets into foul trouble, as many rookie big men do, and that could become the case again on Wednesday as he matches up with physical eighth-year veteran Jakob Poeltl. If Lively holds his own, the Mavs should be in for a good night.

Raptors stars Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby might have uncertain futures in Toronto due the fact that they could leave in unrestricted free agency next summer, but regardless of what happens with those guys, the franchise seems to be in good hands with second-year forward Scottie Barnes taking the reigns. After winning Rookie of the Year last season, Barnes has started off this season on fire, averaging 22.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists 2.1 blocks and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from deep.

The Mavs have a great chance to out-offense the Raptors, given that Toronto currently has the sixth-worst offensive rating in the league, but Barnes, as well as Siakam, Anunoby and Dennis Schroder, could make things more difficult than they should be. Here's everything else you need to know about the game:

Mavericks vs. Raptors Injury Report: Mavericks: Maxi Kleber (toe) is QUESTIONABLE. Raptors: Precious Achiuwa (groin) is QUESTIONABLE. Christian Koloko (illness) is OUT.

RECORDS: Dallas Mavericks (6-1), Toronto Raptors (3-4)

WHERE: American Airlines Center (Dallas, TX)

WHEN: Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. CT

TV: Bally Sports Southwest, NBA League Pass | RADIO: 97.1 The Freak

ODDS: Mavericks -5.5 | OVER/UNDER: 224.5

MAVS STEP BACK:

NEXT UP: The Mavs play one more home game on Friday night against James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers before heading out on a four-game road trip that starts with a visit to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.

FINAL WORD: “It’s game six. I don’t know if you’re tired yet," Mavs head coach Jason Kidd said when asked about Doncic and Irving playing in Monday's second night of a back-to-back. "I think it could be easy where Luka (Doncic) or Kai (Kyrie Irving) could take the night off because it’s a back-to-back, but those are our leaders.

"Those guys went out there and played at a high level, and I thought the rest of the team did the same. But we’re just taking it one game at a time. We had a back-to-back. Everyone played, everyone participated. Put us in a position to win, so now we’ve got a day off to regroup. And we’ve got a home stand with Toronto and I think the Clippers. So, we’re just going to take one game at a time.”