The Dallas Mavericks visit the San Antonio Spurs, their second meeting in three days, Saturday at 5 p.m. CST on Prime Video.
The Dallas Mavericks pulled off a blockbuster trade sending Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, Dante Exum and D'Angelo Russell to the Washington Wizards ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline.
It was a move justified by the recent explosion of Cooper Flagg, ushering the Mavs to decide that the time is now to begin building around the teenage phenom. Davis, and his desired contract extension that would cost upwards of $50 million annually, was not a part of that long-term vision.
For the immediate future, Dallas inherits four new players, which will take time for head coach Jason Kidd to get adopted into the lineup.
Washington sent Dallas aging scorer Khris Middleton, developing youngster AJ Johnson, role-playing big Marvin Bagley III and Malaki Branham. The Mavs flipped Branham to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for veteran point guard Tyus Jones.
According to the Mavs' latest injury report, most of the newcomers could make their debut in Dallas, with Bagley, Johnson and Jones all considered probable. This comes despite Kidd not needing to cover much minutes from those who were traded.
(We know the newcomers are making the trip, but don't yet know their game status.)
Davis was out for a substantial time with a hand injury. Exum has not played this season after undergoing major knee surgery during training camp, and Russell has entirely fallen out of Kidd's rotation. Hardy has averaged 13.4 minutes of playing time over his last five games.
Also probable for Saturday's game against the San Antonio Spurs - the second in three days against the in-state rivals - is slashing guard Brandon Williams, who has been dealing with a lower right leg contusion.
Middleton, 34, is doubtful as the trade becomes finalized by the league office. He has started each of the 34 games he's played this season in the nation's capital, averaging 10.3 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Dallas visits Central Texas after Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs to a 135-123 win at American Airlines Center on Thursday. Wemby posted 29 points, 11 rebounds and six assists while knocking down his first five three-point attempts.
Flagg was phenomenal yet again, recording 32 points to go with six rebounds and four assists. The No. 1 overall draft pick is averaging 37.7 points over the last four games.
His 151 points is the third-most points scored by a rookie in a four-game stretch in NBA history, trailing only Allen Iverson's 178 in 1997-98 and Bob McAdoo's 152 in 1972-73.
However, the Mavericks have lost each of these games - and six in a row overall. Their last win came on Jan. 22 beating the Golden State Warriors at home.
San Antonio returns to the Frost Bank Center winners of their last three games, topping the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder before Dallas.
A trio of Spurs are questionable for Saturday's game, streaming live on Prime Video at 5 p.m. CST: De'Aaron Fox (back), Luke Kornet (ankle) and Jeremy Sochan (quad).
Lindy Waters III is listed as out. Still out for the Mavs is Kyrie Irving (knee) and Dereck Lively II (foot, out for season).