Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Clippers - Live Stream
Almost everyone involved had their say concerning DeAndre Jordan's summertime fiasco when the Los Angeles Clippers hosted the Dallas Mavericks late last month.
The Mavericks' fans, however, finally get their chance to air their grievances in person.
In his first visit since spurning Dallas in the offseason, Jordan will likely be facing a hostile crowd on Wednesday night when the Clippers look to take the first two in the season series.
The All-Defensive first-teamer verbally agreed to join the Mavericks as a free agent on July 3 before Clippers personnel flocked to Jordan's home five days later and persuaded him to return. At the same time, Jordan would not to return calls from anyone in the Dallas organization.
The two-time rebounding champ's change of heart left the Mavericks (3-4) with a gaping hole in the middle following the departure of Tyson Chandler. The Clippers' role in the turnabout, which included Blake Griffin sending out a photo on Twitter of a chair wedged underneath a door handle, infuriated Mavericks owner Mark Cuban as well as the team's fans.
"I think we were disappointed, but we still have to move on as a franchise, and that's what we did," Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "That happens in free agency sometimes."
Cuban disparaged the Clippers (5-2) in pregame remarks before the teams combined for four technical fouls and some hard personal fouls in Los Angeles' 104-88 win at Staples Center on Oct. 29.
Jordan, who had 15 rebounds and four blocks in that contest, could be in line to face some boos from a Dallas crowd that has likely had this date circled for a while. He's pulled down 17.0 boards per game over his past eight versus the Mavericks.
"He's an adult," Clippers guard J.J. Redick told the team's official website. "It will bring out the best in him. DJ always responds to those types of atmospheres. It doesn't necessarily have to be negativity toward him, but he thrives off that energy. I expect him to have a big game."
Los Angeles had averaged 107.3 points on 48.1 percent shooting before a season-low 41.2 field-goal percentage in Monday's 94-92 home win over Memphis. Griffin led the way with 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Redick scored six of his 16 points in the final 55 seconds.
Chris Paul scored 14 against the Grizzlies after missing one game due to a sore right groin.
Since allowing 97.3 points per game on 39.8 percent shooting during a 2-1 start, the Mavericks have given up an average of 107.0 points and 47.6 percent shooting while dropping three of four.
Griffin had 26 points and 10 rebounds in the first meeting with Dallas. The five-time All-Star is averaging 28.6 points on 58.1 percent shooting so far.
Dallas, which has a minus-1.0 rebounding margin, will try to bounce back from a 120-105 road loss in the second of a home-and-home set with previous winless New Orleans.
Nowitzki finished with 18 points but Chandler Parsons, Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews totaled 11 on 5-for-20 shooting as they continue to work their way back from injuries. The trio did not play in the first meeting when Dallas shot just 36.1 percent and trailed by as many as 28.
The Mavericks lost three straight at home in the series before a 129-99 win March 13 in the most recent meeting at American Airlines Center.
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