Dallas @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 16, 2019 ) Cleveland 116, Dallas 121

Luka Doncic is having his way with opponents early in the season and looks to continue his hot start when he leads the Dallas Mavericks into a Sunday night matchup with the host Cleveland Cavaliers. The 20-year-old Doncic recorded his 10th career triple-double -- second in the last four games -- with 31 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds in an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and idol LeBron James on Friday.

"There's a long way to go, where he is," Doncic told reporters of getting to the level of James. "He's tough to play the whole time. It's a long way to go where he is." One of James' former teams is next on the docket, and the Cavaliers will be looking to stay perfect at home after winning their first two at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. An 11-point second quarter doomed Cleveland in its last outing, a 102-95 setback at Indiana on Friday. Kevin Love continued his solid start with 22 points and 17 rebounds but the Cavaliers were unable to overcome 36.8 percent shooting.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (3-2): Dallas led by 10 at halftime Friday and still held the same advantage with under 10 minutes left in regulation before faltering down the stretch, including a game-tying 3-pointer by the Lakers after the Mavericks failed to use a foul they had to give. "That's on me," coach Rick Carlisle told reporters of the play in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. "Our plan in that situation was to foul a guy on the catch in a non-shooting situation. But the fact that we were unable to do it is on me." Kristaps Porzingis contributed 16 points and nine rebounds in the loss and the 7-3 star is averaging 13 over his last two games after posting a 26.3 average through the first three contests.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (2-3): Cleveland is hoping for big things from rookie guard Darius Garland and doesn't want his 0-for-10 shooting effort Friday night to hinder him going forward. "Been there before," Love told reporters of Garland's rough night. "It's on us to pick him back up. I will be able to talk to him a little bit. He has that quiet confidence about him where he will come out on Sunday and I know he will have a good showing at home." Garland, a 19-year-old out of Vanderbilt, is shooting 30.2 percent on the season.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Love has five straight double-doubles to begin the season, tied for second in the NBA entering Saturday.

2. Mavericks SF Dorian Finney-Smith recorded season highs in rebounds (10) and steals (three) on Friday.

3. The Mavericks won both meetings in 2018-19. Doncic missed one of those matchups but scored 35 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the other.

PREDICTION: Mavericks 112, Cavaliers 107