Dallas Mavericks: 5 must see games after the All-Star Break

Dallas Mavericks must-see game: April 28th vs. Los Angeles Lakers

While there are important games scattered across the remainder of the schedule, none may be more imperative than this primetime matchup against the Lakers. This will be the Mavs’ final crack against the defending champs before the postseason.

No team presents a tougher matchup position-wise for the Mavericks than the 2020 champions. Dallas really has no good option to defend LA’s two superstars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis. There’s no doubt that if the Mavs are to compete for a title soon, they’ll at some point have to get past King James.

The two teams only played once so far this season, and the Mavericks would love to forget that Christmas Day meeting. LeBron and the Lakers exposed the Mavericks defense as LA put up nearly 140 points in the blowout.

Worse yet, the beatdown took place on national television as part of the NBA’s Christmas marathon. It was an embarrassment of an effort, but Dallas will have two chances to redeem themselves after the All-Star break.

Just like the previous two games highlighted, this contest will be an important date on KP’s calendar. If the Mavericks are to upset the defending champions, the Zinger will have to prove a capable primary defender against AD and be a credible threat on offense to neutralize LA’s rim protection.

Furthermore, if Dallas has some kind of scheme to try to contain LeBron, this would be a good time to break it out. In their first matchup, the King nearly posted a triple-double and finished a game-high plus-16.

It’s paramount that the Mavs get a trademark win against the Lakers before the postseason.

Next: No. 1