The Mavs are honored that they can play on Christmas

While some players may act like the Grinch when they have to play a game on Christmas, the Dallas Mavericks believe it’s a badge of honor for having a game at Christmas. Especially a home game.

“It shows what the league thinks of the team,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “It is an honor to be able to play at Christmas.

“We’ve all seen Christmas plays when you’re younger. The big thing is to enjoy having that opportunity.”

The Mavs have that opportunity to play this Christmas primarily because they advanced to last season’s NBA Finals. The NBA also recognizes the Mavs as one of the most well-rounded teams in the league with several future Hall of Fame selections on their roster, plus a number of young talented players.

“It’s a great honor,” Kidd said. “This might be one of the first afternoon games for us at Christmas. Normally we’ve been the last game.”

The Mavs will host the Minnesota Timberwolves at 1:30pm on Wednesday. It’s a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals, which the Mavs won in five games.

“It’s special,” said point guard Luka Dončić, referring to playing on Christmas. “A lot of people want to watch the NBA, and it’s going to be prime time at home.”

The other four games on Christmas include the New York Knicks hosting the San Antonio Spurs at 11, Philadelphia plays at Boston at 4 p.m., the Golden State Warriors entertain the Los Angeles Lakers at 7:00 p.m., and Denver plays in Phoenix at 9.30. at

Last year, the Mavs won in Phoenix on Christmas, 128-114, behind 50 points, six rebounds, 15 assists and four steals in a very special standout performance from Doncic.

“At this point in the season last year, I was injured,” guard Kyrie Irving said. “I didn’t get to play Christmas in Phoenix. I don’t think I needed to after Luka turned 50.

“Shoutout to the NBA. I’ve had some pretty special Christmas shows so I’m looking forward to the game and my family being there. And be thankful you’re not playing at 8:30.”

Here are some other nuggets surrounding the game between the Mavs and Timberwolves.

*This is finale of a four-game week-long homestand for the Mavericks. Mavs are 2-1 so far. It started with last Thursday’s 118-95 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Mavs followed that up with a 113-97 win over the Clippers on Saturday. And that was followed by Monday’s 132-108 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

*This is the middle game of a three-game road trip for the Timberwolves. They opened with Monday’s 117-104 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. That trip ends for them with Friday’s game in Houston before Minnesota returns home to host the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

*After Wednesday’s game, the Mavs open a four-game road trip that will lead into the new year and include a back-to-back. The Mavs play at Phoenix on Friday, at Portland on Saturday, at Sacramento on Monday and at Houston on Jan. 1 before returning home to host the powerful Cleveland Cavaliers on Jan. 3.

*Anthony Edwards is one of the NBA’s bright young stars, averaging 25.3 ppg and 5.5 rpg for Minnesota. Also for the Timberwolves, Plano native Julius Randle is averaging 20 ppg and 6.9 rpg, Naz Reid is averaging 12.4 ppg and 5.1 rpg, Rudy Gobert is averaging 10.3 ppg and 10.6 rpg, and Jaden McDaniels is averaging 10 ppg.

*This is the first meeting between the Mavs and Timberwolves since Dallas swept Minnesota four games to one in last season’s Western Conference Finals. That includes the Mavs winning three of those games in Minnesota, proving again that teams don’t necessarily need home court advantage to win a series.

*The Mavs are one of the hottest teams in the NBA with wins in 14 of their last 17 games. Meanwhile, the T-Wolves have lost eight of their last 14 games and don’t look anywhere near the team that came within three wins of advancing to last season’s NBA Finals.

*Mavs forward Klay Thompson needs just three three-pointers to pass Reggie Miller and move into fifth place on the NBA’s all-time three-point field goal list. Going into today’s action, the top six players in this category are Stephen Curry (3,841), James Harden (3,022), Ray Allen (2,973), Damian Lillard (2,683), Reggie Miller (2,560) and Thompson (2,558) .

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (14-14) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (19-10)

When: 1:30 p.m., Wednesday

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV: ABC

Radio: KEGL 97.1 FM The Eagle, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @DwainPrice