Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks make their only visit of the season to Toronto on Wednesday but because it’s the second of a back-to-back for the Mavs, it’s possible one or both sits. Dallas opened as a 2.5-point favourite on the NBA odds.

Mavericks vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds

Wednesday starts a four-game homestand for the Raptors, tied for their longest remaining this season. This writer does think there’s a pretty good chance that Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving sits in the second of a back-to-back here for Dallas because the Mavericks have done that plenty this season. Plus, there’s a much bigger game for the Mavs up next Friday in a possible NBA Finals preview in Boston.  

Can Dallas win the West? Before the trade deadline we would have said no, but the Mavs added two needed bigs in Daniel Gafford from Washington and PJ Washington from Charlotte, so they have a shot now if they can stay healthy and catch a break or two. 

Toronto goes for the season sweep as it won 127-116 in Dallas on Nov. 8. Pascal Siakam had 31 points and 12 rebounds, and OG Anunoby scored 26. Of course, they are both gone now. Doncic had 31 points and Irving 22. The Mavs were obliterated on the boards 50-38 and allowed a whopping 72 points in the paint. That’s why they needed guys like Gafford and Washington.

Dallas leads the season series 30-24 but trails 16-10 as the road team. Doncic is averaging 27.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game in 10 career games vs. Toronto with a 5-5 record.

Dallas Mavericks

Tuesday’s Dallas at Cleveland game had one of the wildest endings of the season as the Mavs appeared to win the game on a layup by PJ Washinton with 2.1 seconds left, but the Cavs’ Max Strus hit 59-foot three-pointer at the buzzer for the 121-119 Cleveland victory. Luka Doncic was brilliant with 45 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds in 41 minutes. Kyrie Irving had 30 points and six rebounds in 39 minutes. I’ll actually be a tad surprised if Irving plays here and the only reason I think Doncic does is that it’s his 25^th birthday today. “You don’t flush it out of your system,” Irving said after the loss. “You’re human, you feel it, you don’t ignore all the emotions that came with (Tuesday’s game).” Dallas is 0-2 on its current four-game trip. The Mavs have three Canadians on the roster in reserves Dwight Powell (Toronto native), AJ Lawson (also Toronto) and Olivier-Maxence Prosper (Montreal). Lawson is on a two-way contract, also seeing time with the team’s G League affiliate, the Texas Legends.

Toronto Raptors

The All-Star break apparently was just what the Raptors needed as they entered the break on a three-game losing streak but have won a season-high three in a row out of it after a 130-122 upset win at Indiana on Monday as the Pacers looked little worn down playing the second of a back-to-back. Scottie Barnes had his fourth triple-double of the season – a single-season team record – with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists on a night seven Raptors scored in double figures. RJ Barrett returned after missing a game and had 24 points on 11-for-16 shooting. Gradey Dick had 18 points off the bench and was 4-for-4 from deep. The former Kansas star became the first Raptors rookie to make at least four three-pointers without a miss since Andrea Bargnani on Jan. 3, 2007. Jakob Poeltl had 15 points and 11 rebounds in just 22 minutes before leaving with a left ankle sprain. He’s questionable tonight. The Raptors shot 55.2 per cent from the field to improve to 13-9 this season when hitting at least half their shots. Toronto also had six players score at least 13 points for the eighth time this season, tied for second-most such games in the NBA. The team has scored at least 120 points in four straight games, tied for its longest streak this season. 

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Mavericks vs. Raptors?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Mavericks Team Leaders

DAL

Points	Luka Doncic 33.86
Assists	Luka Doncic 9.8
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 9.24
FG%	Daniel Gafford 78
Steals	Alex Fudge 1.5
Blocks	Daniel Gafford 1.93

TOR

Points	RJ Barrett 21.75
Assists	Immanuel Quickley 6.76
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 8.58
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.6
Steals	Kobi Simmons 1.5
Blocks	Mouhamadou Gueye 1.64

DAL

Points	Luka Doncic 28.86
Assists	Luka Doncic 8.09
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 9.45
FG%	Dereck Lively II 67.4
Steals	Luka Doncic 1.86
Blocks	Daniel Gafford 1.5

TOR

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Raptors Team Leaders

DAL

Points	Luka Doncic 33.86
Assists	Luka Doncic 9.8
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 9.24
FG%	Daniel Gafford 78
Steals	Alex Fudge 1.5
Blocks	Daniel Gafford 1.93

TOR

Points	RJ Barrett 21.75
Assists	Immanuel Quickley 6.76
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 8.58
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.6
Steals	Kobi Simmons 1.5
Blocks	Mouhamadou Gueye 1.64

DAL

Points	Luka Doncic 28.86
Assists	Luka Doncic 8.09
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 9.45
FG%	Dereck Lively II 67.4
Steals	Luka Doncic 1.86
Blocks	Daniel Gafford 1.5

TOR

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

Injuries

Dallas

Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 06 / 05 / 24

Maxi Kleber (PF)

Doub Tues Shoulder - 04 / 05 / 24

Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 24 / 04 / 24

Daniel Gafford (PF)

Ques Fri Back - 24 / 04 / 24

Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)

Prob Sun Illness - 20 / 04 / 24

Maxi Kleber (PF)

Prob Sun Back - 13 / 04 / 24

Dante Exum (PG)

Prob Sun Foot - 13 / 04 / 24

Derrick Jones Jr. (SF)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 13 / 04 / 24

Daniel Gafford (PF)

Prob Sun Elbow - 13 / 04 / 24

P.J. Washington (PF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 13 / 04 / 24

Toronto

RJ Barrett (SF)

Out Sun Knee - 14 / 04 / 24

Mouhamadou Gueye (PF)

Out Sun Thumb - 13 / 04 / 24

Immanuel Quickley (SG)

Out Sun Hip - 13 / 04 / 24

Gary Trent Jr. (SG)

Ques Fri Back - 10 / 04 / 24

RJ Barrett (SF)

Out Wed Rest - 10 / 04 / 24

Bruce Brown (PG)

Ques Fri Knee - 10 / 04 / 24

Jordan Nwora (PF)

Prob Wed Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 24

Kelly Olynyk (PF)

Out Wed Rest - 10 / 04 / 24

Immanuel Quickley (SG)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 24

Gradey Dick (SG)

Prob Wed Groin - 07 / 04 / 24

Injuries

Dallas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 06 / 05 / 24	9-6	7-9	+ -
Hardaway Jr. is dealing with a right ankle sprain, but he is likely to suit up against the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference second round.
Maxi Kleber (PF)	Doub Tues	Shoulder - 04 / 05 / 24	10-6	8-9	+ -
Kleber is hampered by a dislocation of the AC joint in his right shoulder, and is not expected to play in Game 4 against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 24 / 04 / 24	12-8	9-12	+ -
Hardaway Jr. is dealing with a right ankle sprain, and he is likely to suit up against the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference second round.
Daniel Gafford (PF)	Ques Fri	Back - 24 / 04 / 24	12-8	9-12	+ -
Gafford is hindered by lower-back soreness, and it is up in the air if he will line up for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round versus the Clippers.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)	Prob Sun	Illness - 20 / 04 / 24	12-9	9-13	+ -
Hardaway is ailing from an illness, but it is not expected to impact his status for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Clippers.
Maxi Kleber (PF)	Prob Sun	Back - 13 / 04 / 24	13-10	9-15	+ -
Kleber is dealing with back spasms, but it is forecasted that he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Clippers.
Dante Exum (PG)	Prob Sun	Foot - 13 / 04 / 24	13-10	9-15	+ -
Exum is laid up with a right foot sprain, but it is predicted that he will participate in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Clippers.
Derrick Jones Jr. (SF)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 13 / 04 / 24	13-10	9-15	+ -
Jones is hampered by a left shoulder sprain, but it is projected that he will line up against the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Daniel Gafford (PF)	Prob Sun	Elbow - 13 / 04 / 24	13-10	9-15	+ -
Gafford is tending to right elbow soreness, but it is expected that he will take on the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
P.J. Washington (PF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 13 / 04 / 24	13-10	9-15	+ -
Washington is nursing a right ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will face the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
RJ Barrett (SF)	Out Sun	Knee - 14 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Barrett is bothered by knee soreness, and he will not battle the Heat on Sunday.
Mouhamadou Gueye (PF)	Out Sun	Thumb - 13 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Gueye is hampered by a right thumb sprain, and he will not take on the Heat in Sunday's showdown.
Immanuel Quickley (SG)	Out Sun	Hip - 13 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Quickley is laid up with a left adductor strain, and he will not participate in Sunday's tilt against the Heat.
Gary Trent Jr. (SG)	Ques Fri	Back - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Trent Jr. was held out of the last contest due to back spasms, and it is undetermined if he will take on the Heat on Friday.
RJ Barrett (SF)	Out Wed	Rest - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Barrett will not partake in Wednesday's showdown versus the Nets as he will be given a day of rest.
Bruce Brown (PG)	Ques Fri	Knee - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Brown sat out the previous game with right knee inflammation, and it is unknown if he will face the Heat on Friday.
Jordan Nwora (PF)	Prob Wed	Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Nwora exited the previous game with an undefined issue, but it is projected that he will dress for Wednesday's matchup with the Nets.
Kelly Olynyk (PF)	Out Wed	Rest - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Olynyk will not be available for Wednesday's clash with the Nets as he will receive a day of rest.
Immanuel Quickley (SG)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 24	2-2	3-1	+ -
Quickley will not be active for Tuesday's clash with the Pacers as he will be given a day of rest.
Gradey Dick (SG)	Prob Wed	Groin - 07 / 04 / 24	3-2	3-2	+ -
Dick missed the last game with a right groin contusion, but it is projected that he will line up against the Nets on Wednesday.