The NBA gave the Dallas Mavericks the ultimate test on Christmas day. The Lakers come into this matchup with Dallas after dropping the season opener to the Clippers. Paul George took advantage of the hampered Lakers defense, scoring 33 points in various ways.

The Mavs head into game two of the season after losing game one to the Phoenix Suns. A slow start from Luka Doncic and an inability to hit outside jump shots forced Dallas into an uphill battle early. After the game, Luka was adamant that he needs to not only take better shots but make better decisions. This matchup with the Lakers is an opportunity to see if he took his own criticism to heart. For the Mavs to compete against one of the premier ball clubs in the Western Conference, a great game from Luka is a necessity.

Key storylines heading into the game:

• Luka vs. LeBron is real. And each time the two have played, it's been an outstanding game and effort on all sides. Doncic's career splits vs the Lakers are 21 points per game, eight rebounds and eight assists. He's averaging a near triple-double when going up against the best player of this generation in LeBron. Look for a Christmas day classic duel between these two. There could be a real passing of the torch moment too.

LeBron vision vs. Luka Magic ?

? the incredible playmaking ability of @KingJames and @luka7doncic before the @Lakers & @dallasmavs square off tomorrow at 8pm/et on ABC/ESPN! #NBAXmas pic.twitter.com/dV99sR7Svr

— NBA (@NBA) December 24, 2020

• Dwight Powell needs to find his groove for this team to succeed going forward. In the first game of the season, he provided minimal floor spacing. And there was a clear reluctance to shoot the ball. He is coming back from a torn Achilles, but he needs to remain aggressive in order to provide an outlet for Luka to pass to when the defense collapses around him. It's not time to worry about Powell, but seeing how he bounces back from a poor game should be interesting.
• This Lakers game should offer some insight into how the Mavs aim to stop athletic bigs at the rim without Kristaps Porzingis. It's no secret, Dallas' interior defense isn't great. Expect the Lakers to go to Anthony Davis early and often. Seeing how the Mavs respond to a dominant big could provide insight into how the team shakes up its frontcourt rotation.
• The Lakers game provides another opportunity for Jalen Brunson to show that what happened against Phoenix wasn't an anomaly. He has the potential to be a real secondary ball-handler and playmaker for Luka, but consistency needs to be the name of the game. Having a great game against the Lakers is that next step in showcasing his importance to the second unit and the Mavericks offense.

Projected starting lineups:

Dallas Mavericks	Los Angeles Lakers
PG: Luka Doncic	PG: Dennis Schroder
SG: Josh Richardson	SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF: Tim Hardaway Jr.	SF: LeBron James
PF: Dorian Finney-Smith	PF: Anthony Davis
C: Dwight Powell	C: Marc Gasol

Last notes heading into the game:

The Lakers and the Mavs both have something to play for today. Both teams dropped the season opener. And both teams' superstars didn't play well in their respective games. Dallas needs to rediscover its outside jump shot to compete. And the Lakers need to find some semblance of team defense to negate the offensive effect of Luka Doncic.

Tonight also marks act two of the Luka MVP campaign. Last game he put up the numbers, today it's all about finding a way to impact winning. The game is slated for 7 p.m CT on ABC. It should be a good one.

Feature image via  Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports