The Oklahoma City Thunder are set to face off against the Dallas Mavericks in a Round 2 series at Paycom Center. This will be the first second-round series played in front of OKC’s home crowd since 2016, after the Thunder made history as the youngest team to win a playoff series. Having swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the opening round, the Thunder will look to capitalize on their momentum and get off to a strong start against the Mavericks, who have the star talent to take advantage of their inexperience.
While OKC won three out of the four games they played against Dallas in the regular season, the series does not provide much context for how these two teams will match up in the playoffs. The Mavericks have undergone significant roster changes since those matchups, with trades at the deadline altering their rotation. One game between the two teams saw the Mavericks resting key players, making it difficult to assess their true potential against the Thunder.
The health of Mavericks star Luka Doncic will be a key factor in the series, as he played through a knee injury in the first round against the LA Clippers. If Doncic can return to his typical scoring efficiency and his teammate Kyrie Irving continues to perform at a high level, the Thunder will face a tough challenge in defending against Dallas. Additionally, the center rotations for both teams will play a crucial role, with the Mavericks having a variety of options at the position compared to the Thunder’s more limited choices.
Both teams have effective pick and roll strategies on offense, with players like Doncic and Irving being capable ball handlers, and strong screeners like Lively and Gafford creating scoring opportunities. The Thunder will need to defend against these plays effectively to limit the Mavericks’ offensive output. On the offensive end, Oklahoma City will rely on players like Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Joe as screeners to create open shooting opportunities. The winner of this series will move on to face either the Denver Nuggets or Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.
Overall, this series between the Thunder and Mavericks promises to be highly entertaining and competitive, with both teams showcasing their strengths and strategies on the court. Fans can expect an intense battle between these two teams over the next two weeks, as they vie for a spot in the conference finals. As the Thunder look to continue their playoff success and the Mavericks aim to showcase their star power, the stakes are high for both teams in what is shaping up to be an exciting matchup.
