DALLAS @ OKLAHOMA CITY (OKC -3.5, 217.5)
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MAVERICKS VS. THUNDER 5/7/24
Star players didn't have to put on spectacular performances for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks to advance past the first round of the NBA playoffs. Both teams will likely need more from their stars – the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Mavericks' Luka Doncic – as they get ready for their Western Conference second-round matchup. The series gets underway in Oklahoma City tonight.
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 27.3 points, 5.0 assists, and 1.5 steals in OKC’s first-round victory over New Orleans. The Thunder star shot 47.6 percent from the floor but just 29.4 percent from beyond the three-point arc. Interestingly, all of those numbers fell short of his regular season averages.
Gilgeous-Alexander has never participated in a second-round playoff series. He and the Thunder made the postseason in 2020 and he made the playoffs with the Clippers in 2019. There will be added excitement through this series. SGA’s wife gave birth to their son during the first round.
In the Mavericks' 4-2 first-round series victory over the Clippers, Doncic averaged 29.8 points, 9.5 assists, and 8.8 rebounds. However, he only shot 40.5 percent from the field and 23.9 percent from beyond the arc. Doncic shot a career-high 38.2 percent from beyond the arc during the regular season. He has been hampered since shortly before the playoffs due to a right knee sprain. Doncic intends to persevere despite the injury, and Oklahoma City's defense will center around him even if he is not fully recovered.
Oklahoma City easily defeated the Pelicans in the first round and made it to the second round for the first time since their 2016 run to the Western Conference finals thanks in large part to the best perimeter defender in the league, Luguentz Dort.
Tim Hardaway Jr., who missed the final four games of the first-round series due to an ankle sprain, has recovered well, according to Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. He has been upgraded to probable for tonight’s game.
Despite Hardaway's return, Dallas will be without Olivier-Maxence Prosper (ankle injury early in the first-round series) and reserve power forward/center Maxi Kleber. He suffered a dislocated AC joint in his right shoulder in the series-clinching Game 6 win over the Clippers.
For the first time since their 2011 championship run, the Mavericks are in the second round of the NBA playoffs. In 2022, Dallas advanced to the Western Conference Finals. This season, the Thunder have defeated the Mavs in three of their four meetings, including their two games in Oklahoma City.
The Mavericks announced on Monday that Kidd had extended his contract with them for a number of years, despite rumors that the Lakers were interested in him.
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FREE PICK: LUKA DONCIC UNDER 52.5 PRA
As good as Doncic is, he hasn’t gone Over this number in seven straight games. He’s gone Under this prop in 10 of his last 15 games. His playoff average PRA right now is 48.1 per game. Doncic has been nursing a knee injury. He’s still very productive, just not 52.5 PRA productive. In 13 career games against OKC, Doncic has averaged 28.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 8.8 assists for 45.6 PRA. In two games against the Thunder this year, Doncic went Over (69) once and Under (49) once. In a playoff atmosphere where every possession matters, Doncic stays Under once again.
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