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The Dallas Mavericks will be looking to extend their impressive six-game winning streak when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. While the Raptors have struggled to a 7-16 record this season, they've shown signs of life recently, winning 3 of their last 5 games and playing .500 basketball over their last 10 contests.
Offense has been the driving force behind Dallas' hot streak. Over their last 5 games, the Mavericks are averaging a blistering 126 points per contest while shooting a scorching 51.9 percent from the field and a shade above 46 percent from three-point range. Their free throw shooting has dipped slightly to 72.3 percent, but they've been crashing the boards effectively, grabbing nearly 46 rebounds per game.
Conversely, Toronto's offense has been inconsistent, averaging 112.6 points over their last 5 games on 49.3 percent shooting from the field. Their three-point shooting has hovered around 35 percent, while their free throw percentage sits just under 70 percent. The Raptors have outrebounded opponents, grabbing 47.6 boards per game, but they'll need to shore up their 17.6 turnovers to keep pace with Dallas' potent attack.
Defensively, the Mavericks have tightened the screws, allowing 111.2 points per game during their winning streak on 46.6 percent shooting from the field. They've been particularly stingy from beyond the arc, with opponents shooting just 33.6 percent from deep. Dallas' ability to force 9.4 steals and block 6 shots per game has fueled their defensive resurgence.
For the Raptors to pull off the upset, they'll need to slow down Dallas' high-octane offense while limiting their own turnovers and crashing the boards relentlessly. If Toronto can get back to their stingy defensive ways of allowing 114 points per game over their last 5, this could be a tightly-contested battle. However, the Mavericks' sizzling form on both ends makes them formidable foes as they look to continue their ascent in the standings.