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The Big D Breakdown · Morning

Irving And Flagg Are Back Tonight, With Sasser Set To Debut

Mavs.com calls tonight's game against Atlanta a dress rehearsal, with Irving, Flagg and Sasser set to play.

vs HawksTonightPreseason, home
Irving, FlaggReturningMavs.com dress rehearsal report
Marcus SasserDebutFirst preseason game, hip issue
2.2Hawks Net Rtg46-36 last season, Quin Snyder
By the Mavericks Nightly Desk · Friday, October 16

Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg are cleared to play tonight as Dallas hosts Atlanta in what Mavs.com is billing as a dress rehearsal. Marcus Sasser is set for his first game of the preseason, giving Dusty May his closest look yet at a full roster before the October 21 opener in Houston.

Mavericks Nightly artwork
Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Irving And Flagg Return

Mavs.com reported that Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg will play against Atlanta tonight, both having carried rest-related day-to-day tags into this week. It is the first time this preseason Dallas gets a true look at its top two players together, with the regular-season opener in Houston five days away.

Sasser Finally Debuts

Marcus Sasser, sidelined by a hip issue, is ready to play for the Mavericks for the first time this preseason, per Mavs.com. He joins a backcourt mix that already includes John Poulakidas and Sergio de Larrea, both of whom scored in double figures in Wednesday's loss to New Orleans.

Hawks Bring Their Own Caution

Atlanta arrives on five days' rest but without Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu and CJ McCollum, all held out for rest under Quin Snyder. The Hawks finished 46-36 last season with a net rating of 2.2; Dallas finished 26-56 with a net rating of -5.2, the gap this preseason stretch is meant to close.

Will Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg play against the Hawks?

Yes. Mavs.com reported both are set to play tonight, with the game billed as a dress rehearsal before the regular season.

Is this a regular season or preseason game for Dallas?

Preseason. Dallas is 0-0 in the regular season, which opens October 21 at Houston.

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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