Three keys to Mavericks winning 2024 NBA Cup

The Mavericks will play the rival Thunder in Oklahoma City on Tuesday in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 Cup Tournament. The winner of the two Western Conference juggernauts will face off in Las Vegas in the semifinals.

Even against the No. 1 seed Thunder, the surging Mavs have to like their chances to prevail in Tuesday night’s high-stakes matchup.

Dallas has been scorching hot lately. Behind Luka Doncic's and Kyrie Irving's stellar play, the Mavs have won seven consecutive games. Dallas looks to keep their winning ways going in the NBA Cup Tournament.

“It brings me back to my (NCAA) tournament days, trying to be as competitive as possible,” said Mavs center Dereck Lively. “Trying to bring as much energy, as much discipline and as much focus as we can to these games. There’s a lot on the line.”

With a win on Tuesday, each player will pocket $100,000. The earnings go up to $200,000 per player for reaching the title game and $500,000 if your team wins the in-season tournament championship.

“I think it’s great to be able to play to go to Vegas tomorrow,” coach Jason Kidd said. “This is the second year and it’s our first year being involved this far. It’s a great measuring stick on the road against the best team in the West. I think it’s great for both organizations, a great test for both teams.”

For the Mavs to win the in-season tournament and its lucrative cash prizes, these three keys will be crucial to their success:

Let the stars shine 

Many have compared the potent pairing of Doncic and Irving to Batman and Robin, but this season, the dynamic duo has closely resembled Superman and Batman.

Both guards average 24+ points per game, ranking them among the league's top 20 scorers. 

Doncic is enjoying a sensational, MVP-caliber season. The Slovenian star was named the Western Conference Player of the Week for the first time this season and the 14th time in his career. 

The Mavericks won all three of their games last week, and Doncic averaged 29.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 3.3 steals per game. He also drained 43.8 percent of his triples.

Irving has been equally impressive in the backcourt. The 14-year veteran is shooting a blistering 50% from the floor, which would finish as the third-highest mark of his career. The Olympic gold medalist has scored 20+ points in 16 of his 22 games this season.

In the NBA Cup Tournament, the Mavs should let their stars do the heavy lifting and lead them to victory.

Set the tempo 

Dallas has been playing fast and freely this season. With the fourth-highest scoring average and the seventh-highest pace in the NBA, the Mavs have passed the ball well and do a good job of finding the open man. Dallas must keep its foot on the gas to win the in-season tournament.

High-energy defense 

While Doncic and Irving will carry most of the offensive burden, the Mavs role players will anchor the defense. 

Dallas is a much more dangerous team when Lively and PJ Washington fly around the floor and force stops. For the Mavs to become NBA Cup champions, they will need their wings and bigs to be alert and active on defense.