The Dallas Mavericks will take on the OKC Thunder tomorrow on 5th February. The match will be shown live on NBA.com/India at 6:30 AM.
The Mavericks are 20-27 for the season thus far and the Thunder are 35-12. How time flies. It was only two years ago that these two teams met in the Western Conference Finals and Dirk Nowitzki began to cement his legacy by powering his team to the title. That loss stung deep for the Thunder but they could take solace in the fact that the Mavericks were an aging bunch and in time the Thunder would get their due.
And boy, have they been getting their own back! They knocked the Mavericks out of the playoffs last year and this year have defeated them in two games which went to overtime.
Kevin Durant, the bane of the Mavericks
Kevin Durant is currently the leading scorer in the league, averaging a shade above 29 points, and its thanks in part to the Mavericks that he is at the top in that category. Against the Mavericks, Durant has averaged 46 points in two games this season, including a career high 52 points on January 18 when the Thunder beat the Mavericks 117-114 in Dallas. But in OKC Thunder’s last game, the 115-100 loss to the Cavaliers, Durant left the game briefly in the third quarter after he appeared to injure his back. So he may be a little bothered by it today.
Dirk Nowitzki hopeful
Nowitzki has missed the last two games with a right adductor strain. He missed 27 games at the start of the season with a knee injury and this season has been off his game a little against the Thunder. He is averaging 13.5 points on 26.7% shooting in the two games the Mavericks lost to the Thunder. Before missing two games, Dirk had one of his best games of the season with 26 points.
Freebies for Thunder
The Dallas Mavericks are giving 26.1 free throws on an average to their opponents this season for the worst mark in the Western Conference. And Kevin Durant has been perfect from the line versus them this season, going 31 of 31.
Battle of the boards
The Thunder have edged the Mavericks by 17 rebounds over the last two games they won versus them this season. A main reason for that is Serge Ibaka who is averaging 15.5 rebounds versus the Mavericks this season.
Momentum
The Dallas Mavericks are coming in after winning in Phoenix, 109-99. That was largely thanks to OJ Mayo and Nick Collison, both of whom combined for 39 points. The Mavericks erupted for 35 points in the fourth quarter to put that game away. On the other hand, the OKC Thunder are coming off a 115-100 loss to the Cavaliers, where Kyrie Irving erupted for 13 points in the final 3 minutes. The Mavericks are 4-4 in their last eight games.
“We were up 12,” Durant said. “We can’t just come in and play nonchalant basketball. (When) we are up 12, we have to put them away.”
Home turf
The Oklahoma City Thunder have won 13 straight at home against Western conference rivals and 20-3 overall. And Dallas has a road record of 8-18 this season.
Lineup
Here’s what the starting lineups look like:
Elton Brand vs Kendrick Perkins
Perkins can outmuscle Brand but the latter is more offensively talented, even if physically inferior to Big Perk.
Advantage- Thunder
Dirk Nowitzki vs Serge Ibaka
Assuming Dirk plays, there isn’t any one defender who can stand up to him when he’s on his game. Ibaka is among the best at his position at challenging his man but even he can’t stop Dirk, only hope to contain him.
Advantage- Mavericks
Shawn Marion vs Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant will in all probability light up the Mavericks once again, he’s had 92 versus them in the two games they played this season, and there’s little Marion can do to stop him.
Advantage- Thunder
OJ Mayo vs Thabo Sefolosha
Sefolosha is a capable defender but OJ Mayo is deadly when he gets his game on. Mayo and Collision are coming off a good game versus the Suns and will look to extend that.
Advantage- Mavericks
Darren Collision vs Russell Westbrook
Westbrook is probably the most athletic point guards in the NBA and he will be looking to redeem himself after the recent flare ups he’s had with the team and coach. Collision is a capable talent on offense but Westbrook can take him out of his game.
Advantage- Thunder
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