Mavericks Look to Rebound as Cavaliers Stay Hot

January was a month to forget for the Dallas Mavericks, but with a fresh start in February, they hope to reverse their fortunes as they visit the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon.

Dallas Struggles But Stays Optimistic

The Mavericks (26-23) ended January with a rough 6-10 record, including a 117-102 loss to the Pistons on Friday.

Despite Kyrie Irving’s 28 points and P.J. Washington’s double-double (22 points, 13 rebounds), Dallas was overpowered by Cade Cunningham’s 40-point night.

Yet, Irving remains confident that the Mavs can turn things around.

“I feel like we’re in a good place. We still have a winning record,” Irving said. “Hopefully, in the next few weeks, we get some guys healthy and we can have some consistency in our lineups.”

The Mavericks hold onto a play-in tournament spot in the Western Conference, but they need better defense and more consistent scoring to compete with top teams like Cleveland.

Cavaliers Are On Fire

The Cavaliers (39-9) are cruising atop the Eastern Conference, coming off a 137-115 blowout win over Atlanta on Thursday.

Darius Garland (26 points) and Donovan Mitchell (24 points) led the way, but Cleveland’s elite ball movement stole the show.

The Cavs dished out 34 assists in the win, marking their fifth straight game with at least 28 assists.

“Other coaches tell me, ‘Man, you guys move the ball so well. You’re so connected,’” said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson. “Our skill level is super high, and we just let them hoop.”

The Cavaliers have won three straight, including a 134-122 victory over Dallas on Jan. 3, where they racked up 38 assists.

Trade Rumors Heating Up

With the NBA trade deadline approaching (Feb. 8), Cleveland is reportedly interested in acquiring Nets forward Cameron Johnson.

Johnson (19.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.9 APG) could add another scoring threat to an already deep Cavaliers roster.

However, reports indicate that Cleveland will not trade any core players to land Johnson.

Game Preview: Can the Mavs Slow Down Cleveland?

Dallas will need a big effort from Irving and better defensive play to have a chance against one of the NBA’s hottest teams.

Key Matchups:

✅ Kyrie Irving vs. Darius Garland – Can Irving take over the game, or will Garland continue his high-level playmaking?
✅ P.J. Washington vs. Evan Mobley – Can Washington provide defensive resistance against the Cavs’ frontcourt?
✅ Mavericks’ defense vs. Cleveland’s ball movement – Dallas must contest shots and limit assists to keep Cleveland from running up the score.

The Mavericks need a win, but the Cavaliers look unstoppable right now. Who takes it?