The Dallas Mavericks play host to the Los Angeles Clippers in Orlando on Thursday.

The Clippers (45-22) have been a slight disappointment in this Orlando restart, losing two of their first three games. While the Lakers loss was acceptable, the one against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday was not. That's a team that's lucky to be playing in Orlando and it's not a good sign for the Clippers headed forward. The main issue in that defeat was their defense, allowing the Suns to shoot 47 percent from the field and 53 percent from three-point range. This is a team that was supposed to be elite on the defensive end with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Patrick Beverley but sitting 12th in points allowed simply isn't good enough. In any case, they still own the second-seed in the west and that's the ultimate goal with first out of the realm of possibility at this juncture.

The Mavericks (41-29) were one misstep away from entering this matchup with an 0-3 record in the Orlando restart but an overtime victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday is hopefully the start of a good run. What's really discouraging about this poor showing in Orlando is their defense, allowing nearly 130 points per game. The poor form certainly can't be blamed on Luka Doncic though, who's triple-doubled twice in these games and provided 34 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists in that OT victory on Tuesday. This kid is just 21-years-old and it's scary that he can put up lines like this despite being so young. Kristaps Porzingis has also been stellar in this reboot, averaging 30 points, 10 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. These two will have to carry this club and they look plenty capable of doing just that for years to come.

These teams have played two games in Dallas this year, with the Clippers prevailing in both road outings.