The Dallas Mavericks had just three Christmas Day games before the arrival of Luka Doncic.
Wednesday’s holiday matinee against the Minnesota Timberwolves will mark the eighth Christmas Day game in franchise history, and fifth consecutive time the Mavericks will be featured among the rare group of teams invited to play on one of the most anticipated days of the season.
Doncic exploded for an unprecedented stat line of 50 points, 15 assists, six rebounds, four steals and three blocks in a blowout win in Phoenix last season. He became the first player in 39 years to score at least 50 points on Christmas Day. This time around he’s poised to face Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves (17-17) in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference finals.
Doncic has been a part of two consecutive victories on Christmas in 2022 and 2023 after the Mavericks suffered two losses on the holiday in 2020 and 2021. Dallas is 4-3 overall on Christmas Day, and Doncic is excited to participate again this year.
“It’s special,” Doncic said. “It’s a big thing. I know a lot of people at home watch it. It’s going to be a special game for me.”
The Mavericks enter Wednesday’s game as winners of 14 of the last 17 games and they’ve found a groove with their starting lineup of Doncic, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington Jr., Dereck Lively II and Kyrie Irving.
Irving will participate in his seventh Christmas game and he’s had several notable performances, including a 40-point output in 2018 and 37 points in 2020. As a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, Irving notably scored a turnaround midrange game-winner over Thompson, who was with the Golden State Warriors.
The Mavericks star said it feels great to be a part of the league’s annual tradition, especially since it’ll be his first Christmas game playing alongside Doncic [Irving missed last year’s game because of an injury].
“Shoutout to the NBA,” Irving said. “They obviously want to see greatness on Christmas so we’ll give them a good show. I’ve had some pretty special Christmas performances so I’m looking forward to the game and my family being there. It’s nothing like having an early game too and getting home after, being able to break bread and just watch the rest of the competitive games. Be grateful that you’re not playing at 8:30 p.m.”
The Mavericks received the rather convenient 1:30 p.m. time slot, meaning the team will have an opportunity to enjoy early Christmas morning and most of the evening with their families with a rematch against the Timberwolves sandwiched in between.
Edwards will make his Christmas Day debut in the fifth year of his rising career. The 23-year-old guard is known for his explosiveness and athleticism, along with his embrace of the big stage. He scored 24 of his 37 points in the first quarter of the first meeting between the teams on Oct. 29. The Mavericks won that game thanks to a 35-point effort from Irving, and a dagger 3-pointer by Doncic. Edwards has been on a tear since. He’s averaging 25.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for a Minnesota team that is struggling to replicate last year’s success.
The Mavericks have a couple of players who will also make their Christmas Day debuts. Washington and Gafford, who were acquired in separate trades last season with the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards, will play when the regular season lights are brightest for the first time in their careers.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Gafford said. “It’s my first Christmas game. It’ll be an early game so of course we won’t get a lot of sleep, but I’m just excited because of the energy that’s always around Christmas games. The commercials, the atmosphere. It’s real dope to be in this position.”
History is also on the line on Wednesday. Thompson enters the game needing only three 3-pointers to surpass Reggie Miller for fifth on the NBA’s all-time career 3-pointers list. The Mavericks sharpshooter connected on three triples in Monday’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
“We believe that he’ll get the attempts in the next game, but he has to put them in the basket,” said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. “He’s shooting the ball extremely well so we believe he can get that done in the next game.”