Get ready for an exciting showdown this Friday night as the Dallas Mavericks take on the top-ranked Oklahoma City Thunder at the American Airlines Center. Currently sitting at 7th place, the Mavs are holding a 22-19 record, while the Thunder are flying high with an impressive 34-6 record.
Dallas is coming off a tough 119-116 loss to the Pelicans on Wednesday, marking their third straight defeat. The team is hoping to stay afloat as they await the return of one of their star players. Injuries have plagued both Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving recently, with Irving managing 30 minutes in Tuesday’s 118-98 loss to the Nuggets. The Mavs are in need of a bounce-back performance, and this game is sure to be a nail-biter.
When the Thunder took down the Mavericks last month, they simply dominated. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an incredible performance, scoring 39 points and grabbing 8 rebounds while shooting a stellar 15-for-23 from the field and 5-for-9 from beyond the arc. Jalen Williams also chipped in with 18 points, going 8-for-21. Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace both contributed 11 points each, shooting 4-for-10, while Isaiah Hartenstein posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds on 5-for-11 shooting.
Even though the Thunder shot just 45.5% from the field, their 40% from three-point range and 85.7% at the free-throw line were key to the win. They also dominated on the boards, out-rebounding the Mavs 52-44 and securing 17 offensive rebounds. The defense was on point, forcing 18 turnovers with 14 steals and 5 blocks, all while holding the Mavericks to 47.5% shooting, including just 41.7% from three.
For the Thunder to keep this momentum going, they need to stay sharp on offense—maintaining their shooting, avoiding turnovers, and capitalizing at the free-throw line. Of course, Gilgeous-Alexander’s hot streak must continue, and the defense will need to stay tight to keep the Mavericks from getting into a rhythm.
Kyrie Irving might be making his return for this game after recently coming back only to reinjure himself. His presence would be a huge advantage for the Mavs, especially since they’ve been without him for two weeks and Luka Doncic has been sidelined since Christmas Day. So far, the Mavericks haven't had a full, healthy roster in either of their matchups against the Thunder.
In their win over the Thunder, P.J. Washington stepped up as the top scorer, putting up an impressive 27 points and 17 rebounds while shooting 7-of-13 from the floor. Irving also played a key role, contributing 23 points and hitting 9-of-18 shots, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Off the bench, Naji Marshall added 13 points, shooting 4-of-6, while Jaden Hardy also scored 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Daniel Gafford pitched in with 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting.
The Mavs finished the game shooting 47.6% from the floor, including 40.7% from three-point range. On defense, they held the Thunder to 49.4% shooting, with the Thunder only managing 33.3% from three. The Mavericks' free-throw shooting was also stellar, converting 83.3% (30 of 36 attempts) from the charity stripe. They dominated the boards 53-29 and were able to overcome 16 turnovers. For the Mavericks to cover the spread in this game, they need to control the tempo and avoid getting into a fast-paced game with the Thunder.
To secure a win, the Mavericks must continue their dominance on the boards and limit second-chance opportunities for the Thunder. It’s also crucial to keep Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in check and prevent him from having a big impact.
