Los Angeles @ Dallas preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 26, 2019 ) L.A. Clippers 114, Dallas 99

The Dallas Mavericks expect to have star forward Kristaps Porzingis back from a knee injury in time to put their four-game winning streak on the line against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers. Porzingis, who averages 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds, has missed the past 10 games but went through a full practice Sunday and feels he is ready to contribute again.

"The way I'm feeling, I don't see why there should be any hurdles," Porzingis told reporters Sunday. "But you never know, so I'm just putting in the work, making sure the knee is strong, leg is strong." Dallas initially had some issues without the 7-3 Latvian, losing four of the first six games in his absence, but it has averaged 120 points during the four-game run and sits just 2 1/2 games behind the second-place Clippers in a crowded Western Conference race. Los Angeles owns three wins in a row after getting past New Orleans in a 133-130 thriller on Saturday. Kawhi Leonard scored 39 points and the Clippers rallied in the fourth quarter after giving up 80 first-half points.

TIME: 8:30 p.m. ET. TV: NBATV, FS Prime Ticket, FS Southwest

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (30-13): Leonard made 15-of-28 shots from the floor and Lou Williams scored 14 of his 32 points in the fourth, when Los Angeles allowed just 20 points to put the clamps down on the surging Pelicans. "Clearly, the defense didn't wake up for either team," coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "It was one of those games where, at halftime, I said, 'Guys, first team that plays any defense will win this game.' We played defense in the fourth. That's why we won." Leonard is averaging 36 points while shooting 55.8 percent from the floor over the last five games, all of which have come without fellow star Paul George (hamstring), who remains in Los Angeles for treatment.

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (27-15): Luka Doncic continues to carry Dallas and is coming off a sensational effort against Portland in which he drained a career-high eight 3-pointers in 12 attempts en route to 35 points. "We were locked in at the end of the game," Doncic told reporters of his team's 20-of-47 effort beyond the arc in the 120-112 win. Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in 29 points for the Mavericks, matching his best scoring effort since he had a season-high 31 at Houston on Nov. 24.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Leonard scored 28 points and Doncic missed all eight of his 3-point tries as Los Angeles won the first meeting 114-99 at Dallas on Nov. 26.

2. Doncic has 20 career triple-doubles, one shy of matching Jason Kidd's franchise record.

3. Clippers PF Montrezl Harrell is averaging 22.3 points on 61.9 percent shooting in 27.1 minutes during January.

PREDICTION: Mavericks 116, Clippers 114