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Charlotte Hornets at Dallas Mavericks Game Preview

INJURY REPORT: HORNETS - OUT: LaMelo Ball (Fractured R Ankle), Cody Martin (Knee), Mark Williams (Finger) UNKNOWN: Kelly Oubre (R Shoulder Sprain), Terry

James Plowright

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INJURY REPORT:

HORNETS - OUT: LaMelo Ball (Fractured R Ankle), Cody Martin (Knee), Mark Williams (Finger) UNKNOWN: Kelly Oubre (R Shoulder Sprain), Terry Rozier (L Foot Soreness), Dennis Smith Jr (Illness) 

MAVERICKS - QUESTIONABLE: Tim Hardaway Jr (Non-Covid Ilness), Kyrie Irving (R Foot Soreness) 

Game Preview

The Hornets travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks on Friday night at 8:30pm EST. Charlotte will be travelling to Dallas straight after their game against the Pelicans to play on the second night of a back to back. The Hornets are yet to play Dallas this season but went 2-1 last season, you might remember Luka's meme-able face after one of those wins.

However, any repeat of last years' success seems unlikely. Charlotte finished Thursday's game in New Orleans with just seven, yes SEVEN healthy players. Kelly Oubre and Terry Rozier both left the game and didn't return in the 1st quarter, then Dennis Smith Jr left and didn't return in the 3rd. The status for each of these players for tonight's game is unclear, but the odds are stacked against them making a remarkable recovery.

Charlotte's previous season low in points was 82 against the Sixers last week, that could be challenged in Dallas. Gordon Hayward and PJ Washington will likely see a sizable uptick in their usage and be leaned on heavily to generate offense. 

KEY MATCHUP: Luka Doncic vs Gordon Hayward

With Hayward having more ball handling duties I expect he might also draw the defensive assignment on Doncic. Clifford has praised Hayward's this season, he's smart, strong, doesn't foul and communicates well. You don't need to be the most athletic or longest to guard Doncic as he beats you with craft and strength more than explosive, athletic drives to the rim.

Dallas will likely hide Doncic on Svi or Thor and put Bullock or Green on Hayward. I would expect a lot of doubles to come Gordon's way, Dallas will likely blitz him on pick and rolls to force Charlotte's supporting players to beat them. For Charlotte to have any chance, Hayward is going to have to dial it back to 2016-17 and put the Hornets on his back.

Dallas Mavericks

Charlotte Hornets

Point Guard

Luka Doncic

Gordon Hayward

Shooting Guard

Josh Green

Svi Mykhailuk

Small Forward

Reggie Bullock

JT Thor

Power Forward

Maxi Kleber

PJ Washington

Center

Dwight Powell

Nick Richards

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James Plowright
JAMES PLOWRIGHT

Twitter: @British_Buzz Linked In: James Plowright Muck Rack: James Plowright About Me Bylines for: Sports Illustrated, Sky Sports NBA, SB Nation, Queen City Hoops Based in Manchester in the United Kingdom, I have covered the Charlotte Hornets since 2008. When I was 16 years old I won a blogging competition on Bobcats.com, this ignited my passion for journalism and since then I went on to write for a variety of blogs; Hornets Planet, Queen City Hoops and At The Hive. In 2022 I took on the role as site content manager for the Charlotte Hornets Fannation site (AllHornets.com).  I am also the founder of the All Hornets Podcast Network, having recorded over 350+ Hornets related podcasts.  Awards - The All Hornets podcast was nominated for "Best Team Podcast" in the 2022 Sports Podcast Awards.  - I was nominated for "Sports Writer of the Year" in 2013 for LSU Media while studying my B.A in History and International Relations at Loughborough University. 

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