NBA Western Conference Finals Preview: Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City (OKC) Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks will both be gunning for a victory on Tuesday evening when they meet for the first game of the Western Conference Final series at the American Airlines Center.
In their last action on Sunday night, Thunder emerged out with a 105-90 win against the tenacious Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies pushed OKC to the brink in that series and it finally took some magic from All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to fend off the Grizzlies in the game-7.
Durant bounced back from an 11-point performance in game-6 of the series and torched the Thunder with a game-high 39 points and nine rebounds in the victory. Westbrook also played one of the best games of his career as ended with 14 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds, his first ever playoff triple-double. This was also the first triple-double in a post-season since Scottie Pippen in 1992. James Harden came off the bench with 17 points for OKC.
The Dallas Mavericks on the other hand, were 112-86 winners in their most recent game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Their win, not only witnessed an end of Phil Jackson’s coaching era, but also ensured that the Mavs swept the two-time defending NBA champions in the best-of-seven semi-final series. Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, and J.J. Barea played vital role in that sweep.
How Oklahoma City got here?
The Thunder closed the regular season a record of 55-27, clinching fourth sport in the West. In the playoffs, Oklahoma City won the first round series against the Denver Nuggets 4-1 and then knocked out the Grizzlies in seven games, to make it into the conference finals.
How Mavericks got here?
Seeded third this time in the West, Dallas sealed this season at 57-25. The Mavs headed the Portland Trail Blazers 4-2 in the quarterfinal series and then knocked out the Lakers to make it to the conference finals after 5 years.
Players to watch out
Dirk Nowitzki has hit a purple patch in this year’s playoffs. The German sharp-shooter is averaging 26.5 points per game on 49.7 percent shooting from the field and is 60 percent from three-point range. He could be huge factor in the victory of the Mavericks.
Besides Nowitzki, Jason Terry has been exceptional in the post-season and can definitely give OKC a few scares from beyond the arc.
The major threat for the Mavs will come in the form of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Durant is averaging 28.9 points and 7.7 rebounds while Westbrook is averaging 23.9 points and 7.0 assists per game during the playoffs.
Conclusion:
The Dallas Mavericks have been here before. They have the skills, they have the experience and most importantly they have the confidence after sweeping the mighty Lakers. OKC on the other hand, were stretched to their limit by the Grizzlies and they will be fatigued coming into the game-1 on Tuesday. At the moment, with all the extra planning and rest time and a deeper roster, the Mavs hold the edge but, if Durant decides to turn the heat on, we can be in a for a thriller.
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