Preview: Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks

Clippers center DeAndre Jordan reacts after being called for a foul during the second half of the game against the Kings.

Oct. 29, 2015 1:53 PM PT

The Clippers play their home opener against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, a day after beating the Sacramento Kings, 111-104, in their season opener.

Thursday’s game will be interesting for multiple reasons, primarily because DeAndre Jordan had verbally committed to playing for the Mavericks the summer before Clippers Coach Doc Rivers and a group of players went to Jordan’s home in Houston. They helped persuade Jordan to return to the Clippers, with whom he had spent his entire seven-season career.

Jordan’s change of heart was not received well by Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who was upset that Jordan didn’t reach out to him after reneging on his word. Jordan eventually issued an apology to Cuban over Twitter. Cuban was not impressed.

“When is an apology not an apology?” Cuban wrote via Cyber Dust. “When you didn’t write it yourself. Next”

Rivers and Cuban then proceeded to have a verbal sparring match of their own, with Rivers criticizing Cuban for all of his public complaining.

“To me, he acted very silly,” Rivers told Fox Sports radio. “You know, look at the difference. I coached DJ. DJ didn’t call me when he left. Did you see me out in front of the cameras screaming and yelling and crying? I didn’t do that.”

Cuban responded by putting down Rivers.

“His professional life was over if he didn’t get DJ,” Cuban said of Rivers, who coached the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship in 2008.

So, yeah, this matchup should be interesting.

The Mavericks also played Wednesday, beating Phoenix, 111-95.