While some players may act like the Grinch because they have a game to play on Christmas, the Dallas Mavericks believe this is a problem Badge of honor to host a game at Christmas. Especially a home game.

“It shows what the league thinks of the team,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “It’s an honor to be able to play at Christmas.

“When we were younger we all watched Christmas plays. The most important thing is to enjoy this opportunity.”

The Mavs have the opportunity to play on Christmas primarily because they reached the NBA Finals last season. Additionally, the NBA recognizes the Mavs as one of the most diverse teams in the league, with several future Hall of Fame selections on their roster and a slew of young talented players.

“It’s a great honor,” Kidd said. “This could be one of the first afternoon games of Christmas for us. We were usually last in the game.”

The Mavs host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. It’s a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals, which the Mavs won in five games.

“It’s special,” said point guard Luka Dončić, referring to playing on Christmas. “A lot of people want to watch the NBA and it’s prime time at home right now.”

The other four games on Christmas include the New York Knicks against the San Antonio Spurs at 11 a.m., Philadelphia against Boston at 4 p.m., the Golden State Warriors against the Los Angeles Lakers at 7 p.m. and Denver against Phoenix at 9:30 a.m

Last year on Christmas in Phoenix, the Mavs won 128-114, behind 50 points, six rebounds, 15 assists and four steals in a very special, breathtaking performance Dončić.

“This part of the season last year I was injured,” guard Kyrie Irving said. “I couldn’t play in Phoenix on Christmas. I don’t think I needed that after Luka was 50.

“Greetings to the NBA. I had some very special Christmas performances and am looking forward to the game and the presence of my family. And be thankful you’re not playing at 8:30 p.m.”

Here is some more information about the game between the Mavs and Timberwolves.

*This is the one Final of a four-week home game for the Mavericks. The Mavs are 2-1 so far. It started with the 118:95 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers last Thursday. The Mavs followed with a 113-97 win over the Clippers on Saturday. And on Monday there was a 132:108 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

*This is the middle game of a three-game road trip for the Timberwolves. They started with Monday’s 117-104 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. That trip ends for them with Friday’s game in Houston before Minnesota returns home to host the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

*After Wednesday’s game, the Mavs open a four-game road trip that continues into the new year and includes a back-to-back. The Mavs play in Phoenix on Friday, Portland on Saturday, Sacramento on Monday and Houston on January 1 before returning home to host the powerful Cleveland Cavaliers on January 3.

*Anthony Edwards is one of the NBA’s brightest young stars, averaging 25.3 ppg and 5.5 rpg for Minnesota. Also for the Timberwolves, Plano native Julius Randle averages 20 ppg and 6.9 rpg, while Naz Reid averages 12.4 ppg and 5.1 rpg, Rudy Gobert is averaging 10.3 ppg and 10.6 rpg and Jaden McDaniels is averaging 10 ppg.

*This is the first meeting between the Mavs and Timberwolves since Dallas defeated Minnesota four games to one in last season’s Western Conference Finals. That includes the Mavs winning three of those games in Minnesota, proving once again that teams don’t necessarily need home-court advantage to win a series.

*The Mavs are one of the hottest teams in the NBA with wins in 14 of their last 17 games. The T-Wolves have now lost eight of their last 14 games and appear to be nowhere near the team that was just three wins away from reaching the NBA Finals last season.

*Mavs forward Klay Thompson needs just three three-pointers to pass Reggie Miller and move into fifth place on the NBA’s all-time three-point field goals made list. The top six players in this category today are Stephen Curry (3,841), James Harden (3,022), Ray Allen (2,973), Damian Lillard (2,683), Reggie Miller (2,560) and Thompson (2,558).

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (14-14) and DALLAS MAVERICKS (19-10)

When: 1:30 p.m., Wednesday

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV: ABC

Radio: KEGL 97.1 FM The Eagle, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @DwainPrice