Mavs-Raptors preview: Luka vs. Siakam should be entertaining

TORONTO RAPTORS (5-3) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (4-3)

When: 7:30 p.m., Friday.

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas.

TV: Bally’s Sports Southwest.

Radio: 97.1 The Freak, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish).

What you need to know: This is a sneaky matchup between big-time versatile players. We all know Luka Dončić’s greatness. He’s now averaging 36.1 points, 9 assists and 8.9 rebounds per game, all while shooting just 23.7 percent from the 3-point arc. Luka has started the season with seven consecutive games over 30 points, something only Wilt Chamberlain and Jack Twyman did before him. He’s got a ways to go to pass Chamberlain’s 23 consecutive 30-plus games to start the 1962-63 season . . . But don’t sleep on Pascal Siakam, Toronto’s do-everything forward. His numbers aren’t that much less ridiculous than Luka’s: 25.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game. Siakam also is making 36.1 percent from beyond the arc . . . Toronto’s offensive rating has skyrocketed in the last two games, when they have rolled up 282 points, including 143 on Wednesday in a 143-100 bashing of the Spurs in San Antonio. In that game, Siakam finished with 22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. He was one of seven Raptors with 12 or more points . . . And that was without all-star guard Fred Van Vleet, who has missed the last two games with a back injury. Van Vleet is listed as questionable for Friday . . . But perhaps even more impressive than their No. 3 ranking in offensive efficiency is the Raptors being second in the NBA in fewest points allowed per game at 105.8 and seventh in overall defensive rating . . . The Mavericks are 2-1 on their five-game home stand that will conclude Monday against the Brooklyn Nets . . . They are second in the NBA in offensive rating, which coach Jason Kidd said is something they will have to rely on while their defense tries to get on track. They resorted to a zone defense for long stretches in the win over Utah on Wednesday . . . The Mavericks will continue to be without Frank Ntilikina (ankle) and Davis Bertans (knee), along with Tyler Dorsey and Jaden Hardy, who are on assignment with the G-League Texas Legends.

Twitter: @ESefko