Concluding a lackluster road trip with Wednesday’s 112-101 loss in L.A. against the Clippers, the Mavericks (32-46) will return to American Airlines Center hoping for some much-needed home cooking. The Mavs will also try to split the season series against the division-leading Spurs after dropping two of the three previous matchups between the in-state rivals.
However, the Spurs are expected to be severely shorthanded without starting guard Danny Green (quad), sixth man Manu Ginobili (quad), big man LaMarcus Aldridge (rest), Pau Gasol (rest), Kawhi Leonard (rest) and Dejounte Murray (left groin). That said, 13-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki admits that the Mavericks will need to set the tone as the aggressors against a shorthanded Spurs squad in order to collect a win Friday night.