Less than a week after a heated contest, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks are set to clash again on Thursday night. The Thunder will be hosting the Mavericks just six days after Dallas secured a 106-98 victory over Oklahoma City on their home court.
Previous Matchup:
The last game between these teams was marked by intense competition, featuring five technical fouls and a flagrant foul. The Mavericks squandered a 20-point halftime lead but regained control in the closing minutes to edge out the Thunder.
Dallas, who eliminated Oklahoma City in six games during the second round of the playoffs last season, remains the only team to beat the Thunder twice this season. Oklahoma City currently holds the best record in the Western Conference, with only seven losses.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Key Player:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Gilgeous-Alexander missed the recent loss to the Mavericks due to a wrist injury but has been sensational since his return, scoring 81 points over the last two games. This includes a career-high 54-point performance in the 123-114 win over Utah on Wednesday, contributing to the Thunder’s 21st win in the past 24 games. Gilgeous-Alexander is also excelling defensively, with multiple steals in each of his last eight games and averaging a career-best 2.1 steals per contest.
Dallas Mavericks
Recent Performance: Dallas has lost back-to-back games since their victory over Oklahoma City, including a narrow 115-114 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Injury Report:
- Luka Doncic: Out since Christmas with a left calf strain.
- Dereck Lively: Also out.
- Klay Thompson: Missed Wednesday’s game with a left ankle sprain.
- Naji Marshall: Illness.
- Jaden Hardy: Ankle sprain.
- Dwight Powell: Hip strain.
Key Player:
- Kyrie Irving: Irving has scored at least 25 points in each of his last three games since returning from injury. Despite missing six of the previous seven games, Irving remains a crucial player for Dallas. His status for Thursday’s game is still to be determined.
Rivalry:
Mavericks star Kyrie Irving referred to the burgeoning rivalry with the Thunder as “personal” and described the previous game’s heated nature as “the start of a healthy rivalry.”
Outlook:
Dallas, which reached the NBA Finals last season before falling to Boston, currently sits outside the top six in the Western Conference. Despite the injuries and their current standings, Irving believes the Mavericks can contend for a title if they get healthy.
The Thunder will look to capitalize on their home-court advantage and continue their strong season, while the Mavericks aim to overcome their injury woes and secure another win against a top Western Conference team.
