DALLAS, TEXAS — The Dallas Mavericks head into Game 8 of their season on Wednesday night, hosting the Chicago Bulls at the American Airlines Center. After a tough back-to-back home stretch, they face the Bulls, who hold a slight edge with a 6-4 record in their last 10 meetings with Dallas. The Mavericks currently sit above .500 with a 4-3 record, following a recent loss to the Indiana Pacers. The Bulls, meanwhile, are just under .500 at 3-4, coming off their own defeat against the Utah Jazz.
This matchup brings an intriguing style shift. While Monday’s game against the Pacers had a fast pace, the Bulls may force the Mavs into a more deliberate game filled with three-point attempts, aggressive rebounding, and, as always, the playmaking magic of Luka Dončić.
One significant question for Dallas is the availability of rookie center Dereck Lively II, who missed Monday’s game with a shoulder injury. Without him, the Mavericks struggled on the boards, which could pose a problem against Bulls center Nikola Vucevic. If Lively is unable to play, the Mavericks will look to other bigs, like Daniel Gafford, to step up in rebounding and rim protection.
As they await Lively’s status, the Mavericks know they have another home challenge on Friday against the Phoenix Suns. With their eyes set on staying above .500, Dallas will look to rally with a strong performance against Chicago.
