Wizards' Keys to Victory vs. Mavericks

In their own first game of the year, the Mavericks hosted the San Antonio Spurs in what became a brutal rout in front of their home crowd. Even given the unfortunate absence of Kyrie Irving, Dallas' eventual 125-92 loss said more about their own team than it did their down-the-road opponents.

Mainly, the Mavericks, as they currently stand, struggle to do the very thing that Washington seemingly doesn't have to worry about; that is, finding the bottom of the net.

If the Wizards can keep pace with their opening performance in this second go-around versus Dallas, barring an offensive breakout from the Mavericks, they'd appear to take a clear upper hand. The biggest differentiator beyond the basic idea of scoring points will be whether or not Washington can contend with Dallas' size.

Physicality in the Paint

If the Mavericks find any way to combat the Wizards' scoring, it'll likely be due to their oversized lineup and hearty brand of physicality. Two of their starters against San Antonio posted a double-double despite the loss - Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg - and with the latter former-forward starting at point guard in an unusual commitment to a large lineup, it'll be tough for Washington to move mass on either end.

Then again, D.C. sophomore center Alex Sarr posted 11 rebounds of his own against the Bucks and, overall, Washington managed to haul in a hefty 56 rebound total, with 13 coming on the offensive end; both of those statistics eclipse that of Dallas' own, despite their size.

Ulitmately, it'll come down to whether or not Washington can continue their positive game script from their season-opening loss against a team that appears specifically susceptible to the Wizards' strengths. Evening the odds at 1-1 with a game two win would set a proper tone when the team comes back to D.C. this weekend for their home-opener.