Mavs Game Preview: Game 18 @ Hawks

Quick preview on a quick turnaround

Photo by Todd Kirkland / Getty Images

The NBA schedule is relentless. After a disappointing clutch defeat against the Heat, the Mavericks now face another well-rested, healthy, and motivated Eastern Conference foe on the second night of a back-to-back.

The grind isn’t just tough on the Mavericks—it’s challenging to keep up with the pace of game coverage. That’s why this preview will be short, notes style format, focusing mostly on the key facts and data you need to know.

We’ll have a proper preview for the Mavericks’ next game on Wednesday, when Jalen Brunson returns to Dallas with the Knicks. I’ve selected that matchup as the Game of the Week. Game of the Week previews and post-game notes are fully available to everyone. For other games, some insights will be exclusive to paid subscribers, so if you’re able, please consider upgrading to support the work!

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Mavs (9-8) @ Hawks (7-10)

Rest: DAL on the second night of a back-to-back (0 days of rest) with travel; ATL on 2 days of rest

Mavs 2023-24 record vs. ATL: 2-0

DAL injuries: Luka Dončić (OUT), Dante Exum (OUT), Klay Thompson (questionable)

ATL injuries: Cody Zeller (OUT)

ATL projected starting 5: Trae Young (G), Dyson Daniels (G), Zaccharie Risacher (F), Jalen Johnson (F), Clint Capela (C)

ATL key reserves: Onyeka Okongwu, De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanović, Kobe Bufkin, Vit Krejči

ATL Rotation:

Three key questions heading into the game

1. Can the Mavericks muster enough energy to bounce back from a tough loss on a short turnaround?

2. How will Dallas’ defense handle Trae Young and the Hawks’ relentless pick-and-rolls?

3. Can Dallas make enough threes against a team that allows the most in the NBA?

Mavs on offense | Hawks on defense

• One thing the Hawks do very well is force turnovers, ranking 5th in the NBA. The Mavericks will need to be careful, especially against Dyson Daniels, who leads the league in steals at 3.2 per game—a full 1.0 steal more than Jalen Williams, who ranks second.

• Atlanta ranks last in the NBA (30th) in opponent three-point frequency, meaning they allow—or perhaps force—the most threes. Dallas has been a low-volume three-point shooting team recently, so it will be interesting to see how they respond.

• How aggressive and successful can Dallas be in targeting Trae Young on switches and exploiting him on the offensive glass?

• Will the Mavericks continue to push the pace and dominate in transition, as they have against other bottom-ranked defenses?

• Who wins the forward battle between Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, and De'Andre Hunter on one side, and the hot P.J. Washington-Naji Marshall duo on the other?

Mavs on defense | Hawks on offense