Dallas @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 1, 2018 ) Dallas 87, Cleveland 98

The Cleveland Cavaliers will go in search of their first three-game winning streak of the season when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. The Cavaliers, who no longer own the worst record in the NBA, knocked off the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards in the last two games and are close to getting star forward Kevin Love back.

Cleveland became the last team in the league to reach double figures in wins with the 104-101 win over the Bulls on Sunday and managed to execute in the fourth quarter again on Tuesday, securing another three-point win with a 116-113 triumph over the Wizards that opened a three-game homestand. "As far as what we're doing, I don't think we're doing much of anything different," Cavaliers coach Larry Drew told reporters. "I think we're doing some things better." The Mavericks pulled off the first blockbuster trade of the NBA season by dealing for New York Knicks superstar Kristaps Porzingis but don't expect the 7-3 Latvian to take the court this season. Dallas is hoping the other players acquired in that deal - guards Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke - are ready to help the team on Saturday.

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

ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (23-28): Dallas pulled off the stunning deal on Thursday afternoon, shipping point guard Dennis Smith Jr., center DeAndre Jordan and shooting guard Wesley Matthews to the Knicks along with a pair of first-round picks. That, plus an ankle injury to star rookie Luka Doncic, left the Mavericks with several players in unfamiliar positions during a 93-89 loss at Detroit that night. "It was a great effort and we were just very mentally tough, we hung in there and made plays," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle told reporters. "It was headed to being a low-scoring game from the beginning and it just comes down to a play here and a play there. I love the way we competed, I'm disappointed we came up short, but obviously a lot of positives."

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (11-41): Cleveland has been without Love since the former All-Star underwent foot surgery in October but finally got him back at practice this week. "He actually did pretty well," Drew told reporters after watching Love practice on Thursday. "He moved around pretty well. Got a little winded, which is expected. The first time he has really been in a contact situation where we went up and down and there was actual contact. I thought he moved really well, shot the ball well, passed the ball well." Love, who is not expected to play Saturday, averaged 19 points and 13.5 rebounds in four games before going down.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cavaliers SF Cedi Osman is averaging 24.3 points over the last four games.

2. Mavericks PF Dirk Nowitzki, who is expected to retire at the end of the season, was added to the All-Star Game roster as a special addition by commissioner Adam Silver.

3. Cleveland took six of the last seven meetings.

PREDICTION: Mavericks 108, Cavaliers 103