Dallas @ Cleveland Game Overview

The Mavericks arrived in Cleveland hoping to put an unkind January behind them, a month that saw them finish 6-10 and fall to eighth in the Western Conference standings. Doncic has been out since suffering a calf strain on Christmas Day.

While the pundits spent early Sunday morning discussing the trade on television and via social media, Mavericks fans -- and the Mavs players themselves -- undoubtedly are awaiting answers from the team as to why their 25-year-old star was shipped west.

It's against that backdrop that the Mavericks face the Cavaliers, owners of the best record in the NBA on Sunday.

Dallas fell 117-102 to the Detroit Pistons on Friday night. Although Kyrie Irving poured in 28 points and P.J. Washington supplied 22 to go along with 13 rebounds, Dallas couldn't overcome a 40-point outing from Cade Cunningham and trailed by as many as 19.

Despite the rough month, the Mavericks enter February above .500 for the season (26-23). They entered the weekend holding on to a play-in tournament spot in the Western Conference, and because of that, Irving isn't panicking.

"You got some guys disappointed in terms of the way the season is going," Irving said. "But all in all, I feel like we're in a good place. We still have a winning record. We're still putting our best foot forward in preparing for games."

Irving and guard Klay Thompson likely will be called upon for their veteran leadership until Davis arrives, bringing his top-notch defensive skills and averages of 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game to Dallas.

Cleveland has had nothing to worry about lately, responding to a three-game skid with three straight wins. The Cavaliers most recently beat the Atlanta Hawks 137-115 on Thursday night, getting 26 points from Darius Garland and 24 from Donovan Mitchell.

Thirty-four of Cleveland's 53 field goals were assisted. It marked the fifth straight game in which the Cavaliers have dished out at least 28 helpers, and coach Kenny Atkinson said it's that kind of ball movement that makes his team so dangerous.

"I think it's the feedback I get the most from other coaches, which is cool," Atkinson said of Cleveland's ability to find the open man. "Your colleagues said, ‘Man, you guys moved the ball, wow. You share it. You're so connected.'

"You got to have the willingness to do it, share it, but our skill level is super high. That makes it easier. Quite honestly (Thursday) we didn't really call many, any plays. That's just them out there hoopin'."

The Cavaliers' high-level passing was on full display back on Jan. 3, when Cleveland downed Dallas 134-122. Garland had nine of the Cavaliers' 38 assists in that win.

Cleveland, sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings at 39-9, is likely somewhat focused on the looming trade deadline set for Thursday. The Athletic has reported that the Cavaliers are interested in Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson, who is averaging 19.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists this season.

If the Cavs were to pursue Johnson, they would do so without offering any members of their core in a potential trade, per the report.

--Field Level Media