Espn Nba

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (16-4) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (14-8)

Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Dallas -1.5 & 197
Opening Line & Total: Mavs -1.5 & 196

The two Western Conference finalists from last season meet for the third time this season when the Mavericks host the Thunder.

These teams split their first two meetings with both home teams prevailing, but Dallas won both games ATS. Both clubs enter this game playing some great basketball as Oklahoma City has won 11 of 13 (9-4 ATS) and the Mavs have won 11 of 14 (10-4 ATS). Dallas continues to play much stronger defense against better competition though, holding its past 10 opponents (all Western Conference teams) to just 88.8 PPG on 39.5% FG. The Thunder defense looked pretty tough against five straight subpar Eastern Conference teams (87.6 PPG, 36.7% FG), but they have allowed 104.0 PPG on 50% FG in their past three games, all versus teams from the West.

Oklahoma City had its worst defensive showing in its last game, allowing 112 points on 56.2% FG in a 12-point loss to the Clippers. Offensively, the Thunder are still thriving, as they are averaging 105.0 PPG on 51% FG in the past four contests. The one area of weakness has been turnovers, as the team has averaged 19.8 per game in its past six contests, which includes at least 17 giveaways in all six contests. This was also a problem in last year’s Western Conference Finals series loss to Dallas, as Oklahoma City averaged 16.2 turnovers per game, including 4.8 by Russell Westbrook. The Thunder point guard also had a rough series shooting the ball, hitting just 36% of his shots and 20% of his threes. Currently, Westbrook has turned the ball over 20 times in his past three games, but he has helped the team in other ways, with 24.3 PPG and 15 steals in these three contests. Leading scorer Kevin Durant has also been tremendous on the offensive end lately with 13 straight games of 20+ points. He’s scored 32.7 PPG on 58% FG in the past three games.

Dallas will likely be without PG Jason Kidd who has missed the past two games with a strained right calf. But his backup, Rodrigue Beaubois has done a great job running the offense during his team’s three-game winning streak, averaging 14.7 PPG with 21 assists and just four turnovers. Nowitzki has clearly not been his usual self this year, as his 16.7 PPG scoring average is his lowest since his rookie campaign in 1998-99. But he has thrived against the Thunder in the past four regular seasons, averaging 30.7 PPG on 55% FG and grabbing 7.5 RPG. Another player that is finally looking 100 percent after missing time due to injury is Vince Carter. He sat out five straight games with a foot injury, but is averaging 18.0 PPG in his past three games, which were all Dallas wins.