With the Emirates NBA Cup highlighting this week of hoops action, there is a single NBA game on Thursday: the Dallas Mavericks visiting the Utah Jazz. Here are four things to know:

1. Dallas is looking to turn things around: The Mavericks made the NBA Finals last season, but it’s been a slow start out of the gate. Dallas is 5-6 and has lost three in a row. A caveat: those three losses were to the Suns, Nuggets and Warriors by a total of six points.

2. Silver linings for the Jazz: Two young players are doing intriguing things for the Jazz. Walker Kessler has swatted 2.8 blocks per game and grabbed 10.7 rebounds. Meanwhile, Keyonte George is starting in the backcourt, averaging 14.9 points per game and and a team-high 6.1 assists in his second season.

3. Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving have been a true dynamic duo: Having one player average more than 25 points per game is notable. Having two, however, speaks to some elite scoring talent. Irving and Dončić are averaging 25.2 and 28.5 points, respectively. On top of that, Dončić has averaged 8.1 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game.

4. The Mavericks could use P.J. Washington back: Washington has been upgraded to a game-time decision with a sprained right knee. The Mavericks are missing his production as he’s averaged 9.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.