Mavericks at Cavaliers: Game 43 Preview

Dallas Mavericks (24-18) at Cleveland Cavaliers (15-25)
Mon. Jan. 20, 12:00 at the Quicken Loans Arena
TV: FSSW, NBALP
Line: Mavs by 1 1/2

2012-13 Matchups
Nov. 17 at Cleveland
Mavs 103 Cavs 95
Mar. 15 at Dallas
Mavs 96 Cavs 86

All-Time Series
Cavs 34 Mavs 29

Team Rankings
Mavs
Offense: 4th (109.4)
Defense: 22nd (107.9)
Cavs
Offense: 25th (101.2)
Defense: 19th (106.8)

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Cavs
G: Kyrie Irving
SG: C.J. Miles
SF: Luol Deng
PF: Tristan Thompson
C: Anderson Varejao

Team Leaders
Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 21.2
RPG: Marion, 7.0
APG: Ellis, 5.9
PER: Nowitzki, 23.5
Cavs
PPG: Irving, 21.5
RPG: Varejao, 10.2
APG: Irving, 6.0
PER: Irving, 19.9

Notes
The Mavs have won 5 out of 6 against Cleveland, after having lost 4 in a row. The difference: some guy named LeBron.  Dallas has scored at least 107 points in 6 straight games. Cleveland's rookie forward Anthony Bennett, the first pick in last June's draft, has been a extreme disappointment so far. He is only averaging 2.4 points per game and is shooting a meager .269% from the field. The Mavs have won 6 out of 8 away from home.