Since Luka Doncic’s arrival, Mavericks have become a Christmas Day regular: ‘It’s special’

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 for the fifth straight time, the Mavericks will be 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, he is set to face Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves (17-17) in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals.

Doncic has been part of two consecutive Christmas wins in 2022 and 2023 after the Mavericks suffered two holiday losses 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 are watching it. It will be a special match for me.”

The Mavericks enter Wednesday’s game as winners of 14 of their last 17 games and have found a groove with their starting lineup of Doncic, Klay Thompson, PJ Washington Jr., Dereck Lively II and Kyrie Irving.

Irving will be participating in his seventh Christmas game and has had several notable performances, including a 40-point performance in 2018 and 37 points in 2020. As a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, Irving was particularly scored a turnaround midrange game winner over Thompsonthat 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 will be his first Christmas game playing alongside Doncic (Irving missed last year’s game due to injury).

“Shoutout to the NBA,” Irving said. “Obviously they want to see greatness at Christmas so we want to 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 come home after, to be able to break bread and just watch the rest of the competition games. Be thankful that you are not playing at 8.30pm”

The Mavericks received the rather convenient 1:30 p.m. time, which means the team will have the opportunity to enjoy early Christmas morning and most of the evening with their families, with a rematch against the Timberwolves sandwiched in between.

Edwards makes his Christmas Day debut in the fifth year of his growing 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 October 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 is averaging 25.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for a Minnesota team struggling to repeat last year’s success.

The Mavericks have a few 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 at their brightest for the first time in their careers.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Gafford said. “It’s my first Christmas game. It’s going to be an early game, so obviously we won’t get much sleep, but I’m just excited because of the energy that’s always around Christmas games. The commercials, the atmosphere. It’s really cool to be in this position.”

The story is also up for grabs on Wednesday. Thompson enters the game needing just three 3-pointers to pass Reggie Miller for fifth on the NBA’s all-time 3-pointers list. The Mavericks sharpshooter connected on three triples in Monday’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

“We believe he’ll get the shots in the next game, but he’s got to put them in the basket,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “He shoots the ball extremely well, so we believe he can do it in the next game.”

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