Tip-Off: 6 PM CT
Location: American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas)
Television: Fox Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game
The Oklahoma City Thunder picked up a necessary win over the Suns in Phoenix on Friday night, and now, due to a scheduling quirk, the Thunder will play the Dallas Mavericks in back-to-back nights, tonight in Dallas and tomorrow in Oklahoma City.
The Thunder is a half game back of first place in the Western Conference, and the Mavericks have slowly dropped in the standings over the last few weeks, winning just 1 of their last 8 games. The Mavs are tied for the second-best home record in the entire league, though, so winning in Dallas will be no easy task.
The Mavericks have a new face to their franchise in rookie Luka Dončić, and he’s a heavy favorite to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award. OKC will need to do a good job of containing Dončić, as he is the primary producer and spark for Dallas.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Russell Westbrook
- SG: Terrance Ferguson
- SF: Paul George
- PF: Jerami Grant
- C: Steven Adams
Mavericks
- PG: Dennis Smith Jr.
- SG: Wesley Matthews
- SF: Harrison Barnes
- PF: Luka Dončić
- C: DeAndre Jordan
Injuries
Thunder
- Alex Abrines (stomach illness) is OUT.
- Paul George (right quad contusion) is PROBABLE.
- Andre Roberson (left patellar tendon) is OUT.
Mavericks
- DeAndre Jordan (left knee contusion) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Wesley Matthews (right foot soreness) is QUESTIONABLE.
- Dennis Smith Jr. (right wrist sprain) is PROBABLE.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 21-16 against the Mavericks in the regular season (12-6 at home, 9-10 on the road) and 9-5 in the playoffs (4-3 at home, 5-2 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Mavericks 4 times, lost 4 times, and tied twice.
- The Thunder is 0-1 against the Mavericks this season (0-0 at home, 0-1 on the road).
- The Thunder has won 8 of the last 12 matchups with the Mavericks, but the Mavs have won 2 of the last 3 in Dallas.
Game Notes
- The Thunder most recently defeated the Suns in Phoenix on Friday night while the Mavericks lost to the Pelicans in New Orleans on Friday night.
- Oklahoma City is 10-8 on the road while Dallas is 14-3 at home.
- Oklahoma City is 12-10 against the Western Conference while Dallas is 9-15.
- The Thunder is 11-7 after one day of rest while the Mavs are 8-11 after one day of rest.
- The Thunder is 1-2 on Sundays while the Mavs are 1-3.
- Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes
- Dallas Mavericks Official Game Notes
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