Cavs at Mavs preview and gamethread

The Cavs will look to finish up their Western Conference swing with a win, and their ninth in a row.

The Cleveland Cavaliers look to extend their winning streak to nine as they wrap up their Western Conference swing against the Mavericks.

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (29-4) at Dallas Mavericks (20-14).

Where: American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX

When: 8:30 p.m., Friday January 3

TV: Fanduel Sports Network Ohio (previously Bally Sports), NBA League Pass

Line: Cavs -7.5

Cavs injury report: Isaac Okoro – OUT (shoulder), Sam Merrill- DOUBTFUL (ankle sprain), Emoni Bates- OUT (G League), Luke Travers – OUT (G League)

Mavericks injury report: Luka Doncic – OUT (calf strain), Dante Exum – OUT (wrist), Naji Marshall – OUT (league suspension), Maxi Keller – QUESTIONABLE (oblique), P.J Washington – QUESTIONABLE (knee)

What to watch for

Containing old friends

With Luka Doncic out, the Mavs’ offense centers around Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. The Cavs know firsthand just how deadly they both can be on any given night. Irving’s ability to bend and break down defenses has been giving opposing teams fits, and Thompson’s shooting can turn a game very quickly. Granted, these guys are older than the heyday Cavs-Warriors bouts, but their skill set remains. Perhaps the biggest detractor, though, is that Doncic isn’t there to glue it all together. Irving and Thompson are at their best when they have an alpha to play off of. That won’t be possible tonight.

It should come as a surprise to no one that the Mavs struggle without Doncic. Dallas has lost three in a row without their superstar, including a troubling defeat at the hands of the porous Portland Trail Blazers. But don’t discount the other quality pieces they have on the roster. Cavs fans know that Irving is capable of willing a team to victory, and Thompson has had plenty of dagger threes in his career.