Mavericks vs Thunder Free Pick, NBA Free Picks, NBA Predictions 12/5/25
- J.A. Cavalier
- Dec 5, 2025
- 3 min read
DALLAS @ OKLAHOMA CITY (OKC -15.5, 229.5 )
NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS
MAVERICKS @ THUNDER 12/5/25
Cooper Flagg, a rookie for the Dallas Mavericks, still has a lot of growth ahead of him, but his recent progress has paid off. Before tonight’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Mavericks have won three straight games, which is their first winning run of the season.
The Thunder are expected to present Flagg and Dallas with a new degree of difficulty as well as a chance for the youngster to demonstrate his development. Flagg scored a season-low two points on 1-of-9 shooting in Oklahoma City's 101-94 victory in Dallas on October 27, the season's opening meeting.
The 18-year-old Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20 points or more in three straight games during the winning streak. During the run, he is shooting 59.3 percent and scoring 27.0 points per game on average.
"He's been big for us," stated Jason Kidd, coach of the Mavericks. On both ends of the floor, we have relied on him. He makes winning plays all throughout the game, not just when it matters most.
Flagg is not the only one. Ryan Nembhard had not yet emerged in in the first game against the Thunder. In recent victories over the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets, the undrafted point guard finished with 43 points, 23 assists, and only one turnover.
The return of Anthony Davis, who Kidd said was playing much better and was more at ease than he was early in the season before missing 14 games due to a left calf strain, is also helping Flagg and the Mavericks.
Flagg explained, "It's so much better when he's out there," in reference to Davis. "I'm finding ways to cut lanes and play off of him because guys are going to double him. Being with him has been a pleasure. He greatly improves us.
However, Oklahoma City should be a major challenge for the Mavericks. The Thunder had the best start in the NBA since Golden State started the 2015–16 season 24-0, winning 13 straight games and 21 of their first 22. Oklahoma City has won four of its past five games by an average of eight points after winning the first nine of their current run by 13 points or more.
Following their first NBA championship last season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander claimed that this is something that is assisting the club in growing even further.
Gilgeous-Alexander stated, "Every NBA game is going to look different every night." "I think it's a skill that you have to learn and develop as a team -- to just roll with the punches and just take whatever the game, whatever the team, whatever the night gives you and figure out how to come out on top."
Isaiah Hartenstein is anticipated to miss the Thunder's fourth straight game. Luguentz Dort missed Tuesday's 124–112 victory over Golden State, and Alex Caruso missed the previous two games.
In Wednesday's victory over Miami, Daniel Gafford sustained an ankle injury and was unable to play. PJ Washington has missed the last three games due to an ankle ailment, and Dereck Lively II has missed the last six due to a foot injury.
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FREE PICK
KLAY THOMPSON OVER 2.5 THREE-POINTERS MADE
Thompson is a high-volume three-point shooter, taking almost 8 (7.9) three-point attempts per game. He’s been on fire as of late, hitting at least 3 threes in each of his last 5 games and 8 of the last 10. Over those 10 games, Thompson is averaging 3.6 made threes per game. On the defensive end, the one area where OKC is not elite is defending wings on the perimeter. The Thunder rank 21st in three-point FGs allowed to wings.
