Expectations soar for Mavs with addition of Klay Thompson after run to NBA Finals

Last season: 50-32, lost to Boston in NBA Finals.

COACH: Jason Kidd (fifth season with Mavericks, 10th season overall, 323-296).

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 23 vs. San Antonio.

DEPARTURES: F Derrick Jones Jr., G Josh Green, G Tim Hardaway Jr.

ADDITIONS: G Klay Thompson, F Naji Marshall, G Spencer Dinwiddie, G Quentin Grimes.

BetMGM championship odds: 12-1.

The Mavericks addressed their biggest scoring need by adding Thompson in a sign-and-trade after their first trip to the NBA Finals since winning their only title in 2011. Dallas will expect nothing less than another deep playoff run with Thompson playing alongside fellow stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. It will be an adjustment for Thompson, though. He spent his first 13 seasons with the Golden State Warriors and helped them win four championships. Thompson is coming off his lowest scoring average since his second season, and the five-time All-Star shot less than 40% from 3-point range for just the second time in his career.

The good: Playing with Doncic and Irving should mean a lot of great looks for Thompson, and the pick-and-roll could be dangerous if Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford stay healthy. Lively and Gafford showed in the playoffs they can be a potent tandem in the middle. Lively is among the most promising big men in the league after debuting as a 19-year-old and having a strong rookie year coming out of Duke. He did miss time with injuries, though.

The not-so-good: Dallas' most important defensive player last season was Jones, and the club hoped to bring him back. Instead, Jones signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers, who lost to the Mavs in the first round of the playoffs. That will leave plenty to prove on defense for a team with the offensive star power of Doncic, Irving and Thompson. Grimes, acquired from Detroit for Hardaway, could play a role along with Marshall, a free agent pickup.

Plenty of eyes will be on Thompson in his first season without Splash Brother Stephen Curry, not to mention star forward Draymond Green. How Thompson, Doncic and Irving complement each other will be one of the bigger storylines in the NBA. The return Dinwiddie is intriguing. He played a big role in the Mavs' run to the 2022 Western Conference finals as an addition at the trade deadline. Now he's back after a season-plus away when Dinwiddie was shipped to Brooklyn in the blockbuster deal for Irving.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, right, drives against Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, left, drives against Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, right, during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, bottom, falls in front of Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall (13) during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

An injured Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, right, watches from the sidelines during a timeout in the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

An injured Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, center, looks on from the sidelines as teammate Kyrie Irving, right, walks off during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) looks up from the court during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Cale Makar had a power-play goal and an assist, Parker Kelly scored short-handed and the Colorado Avalanche capitalized on special teams to get a 4-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.

Nathan MacKinnon had an empty-net goal and two assists, Valeri Nichushkin also scored and the Avalanche picked up where they left off after scoring twice on the power play in a 4-2 win at San Jose on Thursday night. Scott Wedgewood made 29 saves.

Kelly tied it at 1 on a 2-on-1 short-handed rush in the second, and Nichushkin put Colorado ahead midway through the period. Makar made it 3-1 with a wrist shot early in the third, picking up his fifth power-play goal and 18th point with a man advantage.

Leo Carlsson and Alex Killorn scored for Anaheim. John Gibson made 19 saves, including a penalty shot by Samuel Girard with 5:24 left in the third, but lost for the fifth time in six starts.

Avalanche: The decision to overhaul their goaltending has paid off so far, with Colorado winning six of nine games with Wedgewood or Mackenzie Blackwood starting in net.

Ducks: Jacob Trouba got his first point as a Duck since getting traded from the New York Rangers on Dec. 6 when Carlsson redirected the veteran defenseman's shot early in the second.

Makar's shot is too good to be left with time and space on the power play, and he punished the Ducks' over pursuit on the penalty kill 3:30 into the third.

MacKinnon became the first player in the NHL to pass the 40-assist mark this season, picking up the secondary helper on Nichushkin’s goal and the primary on Makar's.

The Avalanche host Seattle and the Ducks visit Utah on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson (36) blocks a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) and goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) stop a shot by Anaheim Ducks left wing Alex Killorn, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) celebrates after his goal with center Jansen Harkins (38) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) scores past Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson (36) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Keaton Middleton (67) and Anaheim Ducks left wing Ross Johnston (44) fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Colorado Avalanche players celebrate after a goal by right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)