Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

While many of us on the east coast spent the day making snowmen, our Cavaliers were headed west to begin their toughest road trip of the young season. And, speakin’ of young, Mo Williams celebrated his 27^th birthday yesterday on the team plane getting blasted by birthday punches from all of his teammates. Happy Birthday Mo!

And here’s how tonight’s game breaks down:

The Mavericks will enter Sunday night’s match up as winners of 5 of their last 6. Dirk Nowitzki is among the league leaders in average points per game with 26.1 and he adds more than 8 rebounds per night. Jason Terry provides the spark off the bench for the Mavs and averages better than 16 points and 3 assists per contest.

What to Look For:

The Dallas defense had no answer for LeBron and Co. in the first matchup between these two teams and Cleveland poured in a season-high 68 points in the first half. Look for the Wine and Gold to attack the rack again on Sunday night and start their rough road trip on a high note.

Mo Williams got a lot of open looks in Cleveland’s first match up with the Mavs and torched Dallas’ defense for 25 points on 7 of 7 from beyond the arc. If he can get those same looks on Sunday night, look for Mo to get hot again.

Prediction:

Mo spent most of the day on Saturday getting walloped with birthday punches and comes out ready to do some punchin’ of his own. He was 7 of 7 from downtown in the first meeting between these two teams and makes an effort to stay perfect through this one.

The Silent Assassin dials in for three tres in the first quarter and adds a pair in the second. With both Bron and Shaq in foul trouble early, Mo shoulders the load and has his team within 4 at the break.

The King swaps buckets with Dirk to begin the second half before falling victim to another Dallas run. Cleveland goes down as much as 11 in the period but James’s fade away deuce leaves the Cavs trailing by 8 with three in the bag.

Just before the King returns to the floor, Delonte West and Daniel Gibson score 7 straight to pull the Cavs within two. And in comes the Akron Hammer. LeBron scores 13 points in the fourth quarter and has his team leading by one with 45 seconds remaining. Jason Terry nails a long range J with 20 seconds left to put the Mavs back up by a pair.

LeBron James inbounds the ball to Z. Z passes back to Bron who turns the corner on a screen from Andy. The King goes to the line, to the lane and hits a still perfect MoGotti as the clock winds down. 5-4-3. And Mo delivers the knockout punch in the final round to put the Cavs ahead, 107-106.