Wizards vs. Mavericks preview: Washington faces Dallas on Wednesday

After a 4-1 road trip, the Wizards (41-25) head back to Verizon Center to face off against the Dallas Mavericks (28-38). Here’s a preview to get things started:

Game Info

When & Where: Wednesday, March 15 at Verizon Center at 7 p.m. ET

TV: CSN Mid Atlantic in DC, Fox Sports Southwest in Dallas, NBA League Pass everywhere else.

Radio: Federal News Radio 1500 AM in DC, Washington Wizards app and NBA League Pass Audio everywhere!

Injury: The Wizards don’t have anyone expected to be out due to injury. For the Mavericks, Westley Matthews has a nagging calf injury and Nerlens Noel has a nagging knee injury, but they’ll be game time decisions.

What to expect

The Mavericks won’t be as “easy” as their record indicates

Dallas won six of their last nine games. These include a 96-89 victory over the surging Miami Heat on February 27, and recent four game win streak that featured back to back wins over the Grizzlies and Thunder last week. In fact, that homestand was arguably their best stretch of the season.

The Mavs aren’t “Dirk’s team” anymore

Okay, he’s still their franchise player until he retires. But Dirk Nowitzki is not the Maverick’s leading scorer or rebounder. That title now goes to Harrison Barnes, who has put up solid numbers (20 ppg) in his first year for Dallas, but it will be a tall order for him to approach what Nowitzki did.

The Mavericks also come with no shortage of perimeter shooting, as Wesley Matthews and Seth Curry both average close to five made threes per game.

The Wizards can’t get complacent now that they are home

After a long trip, whether for business or pleasure, you head home and tend to be a bit laid back. Though the Wizards had a strong road trip, they cannot “relax” too much mentally. The Wizards are on pace to win 50 games for the first time since 1978-79. They can use every win they can get in order to secure homecourt advantage for the first, and possibly second rounds of the playoffs.