Two days since the Dallas Mavericks' thrashing of the LA Clippers, the team takes on the Charlotte Hornets in what promises to be a competitive matchup. Both teams hold 1-2 records, albeit Dallas' is a bit more competitive in facing the Lakers, Suns and Clippers. Meanwhile, Charlotte played Cleveland, Oklahoma and Brooklyn.

Dallas found its stride early on Sunday against the Clippers. The Mavs defended at a high level and got out in transition for the first time all season. On offense, the shooters made open looks off of perimeter penetration. And the Mavs finally seemed to resemble the team it was for long stretches last season.

There is still the bugaboo of Luka Doncic's difficulties shooting from three. It's early in the season, but 12.5 percent from three is concerning. However, he is still getting to the line at a decent rate, and he is shooting 44 percent from the field. With a player as great as Luka, you have to believe that the three-point percentage will work itself out as long as he stays aggressive and takes high-percentage shots. A three-game sample size is simply not enough to hit the panic button just yet.

Key storylines heading into gameday:

• Charlotte has ultra aggressive guards in Terry Rozier and Devonte' Graham. Both can explode for 30-point nights in any given instant. And each has a deadly outside jumper that can pull the defense away from the basket. On the year Rozier averages 26 points per game on 43 percent shooting from three. For Graham, the question comes down to if his outside jumper is falling or not. Limiting both player's opportunities is critical for a Mavs win.
• Gordon Hayward vs. Luka Doncic. This matchup may not look as though it's high profile, but Hayward is critical to what the Hornets do on offense. Through three games, he boasts a 21.71 player Efficiency Rating while averaging 22 points and seven assists. Seeing him duel against Luka promises to bring some level of intrigue to an otherwise menial regular-season game.
• Rebounding for this Mavs team is a necessity. The Hornets statistically outrebound the Mavs 43-40, but in Dallas' previous game the team gobbled up 58 rebounds. If that version of this Dallas team comes to play the Hornets, it should be a fairly easy matchup for Luka and company.

Projected starting lineup:

Dallas Mavericks	Charlotte Hornets
PG: Luka Doncic	PG: Devonte’ Graham
SG: Josh Richardson (DTD)	SG: Terry Rozier
SF: Tim Hardaway Jr.	SF: Gordon Hayward
PF: Dorian Finney-Smith	PF: P.J. Washington
C: Dwight Powell	C: Bismack Biyombo

Last notes heading into gameday:

This game against Charlotte gives the Mavs a chance to get back to .500 basketball. The mark of a good team is beating the opponents they are supposed to beat. For the Mavs, this Charlotte team is one of those opponents. Look for Dallas to try and jump out to a big lead so that it can afford its starters some needed rest for games later in the week. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. central on FSSW-DALFSSE-CHA.

Feature image via Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports