Dallas Mavericks (38-28, eighth in the Western Conference) against Oklahoma City Thunder (45-20, second in the Western Conference)
Oklahoma City; Thursday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Dallas looks to continue its four-game winning streak with a victory against Oklahoma City.
The Thunder are 28-15 against Western Conference opponents. Oklahoma City ranks third in the Western Conference with 15.2 fast break points per game led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 3.6.
The Mavericks are 22-18 in the Western Conference. Dallas is 3-2 in games decided by fewer than 4 points.
The Thunder’s 13.4 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.1 more shots on average than the 13.3 per game the Mavericks allow. The Mavericks are shooting 48.3% from the field, which is 3.0% higher than the 45.3% the Thunder’s opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the third time this season. In the last meeting on February 10, the Mavericks won 146-111, led by 32 points from Luka Doncic, while Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points for the Thunder.
TOP PERFORMERS: Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.1 steals for the Thunder. Chet Holmgren is averaging 17.5 points, nine rebounds and 1.5 blocks over the last 10 games.
Doncic is averaging 34.3 points, nine rebounds and 9.8 assists for the Mavericks. Kyrie Irving has averaged 2.8 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 7-3, averaging 119.2 points, 45.5 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 8.6 steals and 6.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from ground. Their opponents average 110.3 points per game.
Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 120.4 points, 42.4 rebounds, 25.2 assists, 7.6 steals and 6.5 blocks per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Their opponents average 119.7 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Jalen Williams: day to day (ankle).
Mavericks: Brandon Williams: Out (wrist).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data logging and the data of Sports radar.
