Dallas Mavericks vs
Oklahoma City ThunderPredictions & Preview

Oklahoma City Thunder Defeat Dallas Mavericks in Game One, Mavericks Look to Upset in Game Two Despite Increasing Point Spread

The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a decisive 117-95 victory in game one against the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks. The Thunder will host the Mavericks once again on Thursday at 9:30 PM ET at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK. Despite being the betting favorite with a -5 opening line, there has been no movement in the odds.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Mavericks +165 | Thunder -198
• Spread: Mavericks +5 (-110) | Thunder -5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 218.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Oklahoma City will win straight-up is 66%.

Dallas vs Oklahoma City Stats

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks had a strong start in their series against Los Angeles (C), but struggled in the first game of their second-round matchup with Oklahoma City. They lost the game, failing to cover the spread as a 3.5-point underdog, with the total points falling under the pregame total. The team's star duo of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic were held to just 39 combined points in the loss. Doncic has been a standout player in the postseason, leading in scoring, rebounding, and assists. Following the defeat, the Mavericks are priced at +180 to win the series, while Oklahoma City is at -230. In terms of their statistical performance, Dallas ranks high in offense but lower in defense, with a record of 54-35 (52-37 ATS) this season. They have strong shooting percentages but struggle defensively in some areas.

Oklahoma City Thunder Analysis

The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently riding a wave of success in the postseason, winning 10 straight games and dominating their matchups. Despite being priced as underdogs by oddsmakers, the Thunder have shown impressive stats in key areas such as field goal percentage, three-point shooting, turnovers, and rebounding. Leading the team is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been a standout player both offensively and defensively throughout the postseason. Additionally, players like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams have made significant contributions to the team's success. In terms of power ranking and offensive and defensive statistics, the Thunder rank highly in scoring, field goal percentage, free throws, and three-point shooting on offense, while also performing well in defensive categories such as field goal percentage and three-point defense. Overall, the Thunder have proven themselves as a strong contender in the postseason.

Mavericks Look to Upset Thunder in Game Two Despite Increasing Point Spread.

In game one, the Thunder were favored by 3.5 points, but the line for game two has since increased to 4.5-to-5.5 points. Despite the market trend, I am inclined to bet on the Mavericks to either keep the game within two possessions or potentially win outright. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, averaging 28.3 and 25.6 points per game, respectively, have consistently scored above 39 combined points in previous games. If they can reach around 50 points collectively in game two, it is likely to be a more competitive matchup. Additionally, the Mavericks shot 39.3% from the field in game one, suggesting they may improve their shooting in the upcoming game. While a victory in game two is not imperative for Dallas, their experienced players are expected to elevate their performance to avoid falling behind 2-0 in the series. Therefore, taking the points with the Mavericks seems like a wise choice.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]