Players come and players go for NBA teams.

Some become part of the fabric of an organization and are beloved by fans.

We hardly know others.

Derrick Jones Jr. was a little bit of both for the Mavericks.

The 6-5 swingman only spent one season in Dallas, but what a season it was. He helped embody a defense that got its teeth after the All-Star break, nixing a three-point shot could if the defense ignored him.

Jones came along when the Los Angeles Clippers offered him a three-year, $30 million contract in free agency after Jones helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals in June.

He cashed in. Nobody can blame him for that.

Unfortunately for Jones, his return to American Airlines Center on Thursday (and in a rematch on Saturday) won’t go as he hoped. He is out until at least Christmas due to a strained right thigh muscle.

But Jones has brought much of the same drive to the Clippers that he brought to the Mavericks. He provided instant credibility on the defensive end.

The Clippers rank seventh in the NBA in overall defensive rating. That’s a big improvement from last season when they were 17 years old^Th in the overall defense rating.

This year has been a bit of a gamble for the Clippers. They parted ways with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard has yet to play this season, although he is reportedly close to making his debut.

But the Clippers have thrived with a defensive philosophy to which Jones has been a key contributor.

Here’s what else to watch for as the Mavericks and Clippers get comfortable with two games over the next three days.

• The Clippers are coming off a 144-107 win over the Utah Jazz. In this game they shot 59.8 percent from the field. James Harden scored 41 points as all five starters scored 12 or more points. At halftime they were leading 81:47. This win ended a three-game losing streak (Minnesota, Houston, Denver).
• The Mavericks will await the status of Luka Dončić (left heel bruise), who did not practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• The Clippers are expected to be without Jones, Leonard and Terance Mann.
• The Mavericks start with a four-game homestand. It’s the first time they’ve played multiple home games since a five-game stay at American Airlines Center that ended Nov. 8.
• The Clippers play again at AAC on Saturday. Their three-game trip ends Monday in Memphis.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (15-12) and MAVERICKS (17-9)

WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Thursday

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV: WFAA, KFAA-29, MavsTV Stream

RADIO: KEGL 97.1 FM, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @ESefko