dallas mavericks jersey Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Christmas day games are supposed to be a reward, a highlight game for the best or most popular teams in the league. That’s the way these showcase games are announced, usually in their own segment on an ESPN show.

When it was announced that the Mavericks were playing the Jazz in the night cap for Christmas games, I recall being excited. “A game after my kid is in bed and I’ve completed all family obligations sounds outstanding” or something along those lines.

But the Omicron strain of COVID-19 has other plans for the NBA and for the Dallas Mavericks specifically. Luka Doncic, Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr., Reggie Bullock, Maxi Kleber, Trey Burke, and JaQuori McLaughlin are all out Karl-Anthony Towns due to COVID protocols. Kristaps Porzingis is questionable as of this writing with a toe issue, but I have a luka doncic youth jersey strong feeling that he plays.

So here’s some things to think ab NBA Shorts out prior to the start of what’s going to be an odd Christmas night-cap.

How can the Dallas defense stop the Utah off luka doncic jersey poster ense?

The gap between the f Michael Jordan irst ranked Utah offense and the second ranked Charlotte Hornets is as wide of a gap as between the Hornets and the Knicks, who are ranked 15th. So how do the Dallas Mavericks find a way to slow down the Jazz scoring all the points?

I have zero idea. The Jazz are very, very good. Perhaps a perfect regular season team in these NBA times. If Dallas is to have any chance, it’ll be because the Jazz are missing shots and disinterested. Or because the fleet of new Dallas players aren’t well scouted and they get the defensive jump on a Utah team.

Are you betting this game? Here are the odds.

I am writing this mainly to Luke Askew and Xavier Santos, our gambling correspondents at Mavs Moneyball: maybe seek some help. If you are betting, click here to see the odds. As of this writing (Christmas Eve, around 5pm CST), the Jazz are 12.5 favorites. That seems like a lot, until you see what the Jazz have done to teams lately.

Jazz points last 12 games:

127
129
137
109
136
118
123
124
126
103
112
128

Th Dennis Rodman ey are 1st in offense this season. The gap between them and 2nd place is bigger than 2nd and 15th. pic.twitter.com/b9tweycT0H

— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 24, 2021

If Kristaps Porzingis plays, how will he look on offense?

One of the odder parts about covering Kristaps Porzingis is the tendency to overreact to everything. He’s either terrible or a savant and very little in between. I’ve played a part in that, no doubt. Iztok Franko shared some data the other evening noting how Porzingis has been on a downswing offensively lately.

Curious to see what's going on with KP. Kind of lost in the shuffle among Covid and Luka absences. Will they rest him tonight,or try to get him going?

He's been in a funk the last 10gms (17pts, 40fg%, 20% 3P%), after a great 7 game stretch

Scoring trend (red line – Luka out) pic.twitter.com/mHV4EJr7Gi

— Iztok Franko (@iztok_franko) December 21, 2021

So with many days of rest for his toe, I’m curious to see his shot and his movement. With Luka Doncic out, his average shot distance changed rather dramatically. The Jazz have a good defense as well, so this might not be the best measuring stick, but I miss seeing him play.

How to watch

This game is on national television on ESPN starting at 9:30 pm CST. A late game. On Christmas. YAY.

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