The Oklahoma City Thunder played a close first quarter in Game 5 at home against the Dallas Mavericks, but it didn’t stay that way for long. By halftime, the Mavs had built a double-digit lead, and they never looked back as OKC fell behind 3-2 in the series after the 104-92 loss. Now it’s win or game for the Thunder.
While OKC has trailed already in this series, this young Thunder squad hasn’t been in an elimination situation yet. They have an opportunity to force a Game 7 with a win, but it’s not going to be easy. OKC hasn’t shot the ball well pretty much all series, and Dallas has all the momentum after the Game 5 win. If the Thunder want to head back to OKC with a chance to win the series in Game 7, then they’re likely going to have step it up on defense, force some turnovers, score some easy buckets, and then let the rest of the game unfold from there.
Game Details
Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas)
Television: ABC
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live tweets and discussion during the game
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, Dallas Mavericks Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Isaiah Joe
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Jalen Williams
- C: Chet Holmgren
Mavericks
- PG: Luka Doncic
- SG: Kyrie Irving
- SF: Derrick Jones Jr.
- PF: P.J. Washington
- C: Daniel Gafford
Injury Report
Thunder
- NONE
Mavericks
- Luka Doncic is PROBABLE (sprained right knee).
- Maxi Kleber is OUT (sprained right shoulder).
- Olivier-Maxence Prosper is OUT (sprained left ankle).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder are 30-26 against the Mavericks in the regular season (17-11 at home, 13-15 on the road) and 11-8 in the playoffs (5-5 at home, 6-3 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder have won the season series against the Mavericks 5 times, lost 7 times, and tied 3 times.
- The Thunder went 2-1 against the Mavericks last season (1-0 at home, 1-1 on the road).
- The Thunder went 3-1 against the Mavericks this season (2-0 at home, 1-1 on the road).
- The Thunder are 2-3 against the Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals (1-2 at home, 1-1 on the road).