Halfway through the regular season and hopefully much further than that through a really difficult stretch, the Mavericks are getting nothing handed to them these days.
They have lost three in a row and eight of 10 and not only haven’t been able to find much success during Luka Dončić’s time out with a left calf strain but also can’t catch a break. The non-call on an obvious goaltend in New Orleans on Wednesday was proof of that.
But life, and the second half of the season, goes on. And the challenges do, too. The Mavericks on Friday will see the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are playing the second half of back-to-back games after beating Eastern Conference kingpin Cleveland like a drum on Thursday, 134-114. The Thunder were ahead 119-81 after three quarters.
Not surprising, really, because not much has stopped the Thunder this season, although the Mavericks are one of just six teams to beat them. And one of only two (Golden State) to do so in OKC.
So, while the Mavericks could use a soft spot in the schedule, they will get no such luck. They are going to see on Friday the team that has been by far the best in the Western Conference for the first three months of the season.
The Thunder were beaten by the Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs last season. But they were young and unproven at the time.
Now, they’re simply a year older and wiser and have no reason to fear anybody.
Here’s what else to watch for Friday night as the Mavericks try to right their ship:
- The Mavericks are hoping their health continues to improve. They are expecting Kyrie Irving (back) to be available and hopeful that Dereck Lively II can return from a one-game absence for a sprained right ankle. Dončić (calf) remains out, as does Dante Exum (right wrist surgery).
- Interestingly, this will be the only visit by the Thunder at AAC this season. However, the Mavericks will have three games in OKC, thanks to the in-season tournament. They beat the Thunder 121-119 on Nov. 19 at Paycom Center. Then, in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, they lost in OKC, 118-104. The Mavericks will go back to Oklahoma City for a third meeting on the road on Thursday.
- The Thunder had a ridiculous 15-game winning streak before their Jan. 8 loss at Cleveland. They avenged that defeat with authority on Thursday, which gave them four wins in a row since their setback in Ohio.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would be a major threat to win MVP this season if not for the play of Denver’s Nikola Jokic. SGA has averaged 31.6 points, which leads the NBA, along with 6 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game. The Thunder will be without center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf). They also are missing Chet Holmgren, their usual starting center, who has been out since Nov. 11 with a hip injury. He averaged better than 16 points and eight rebounds in the first 10 games of the season.
- In the win over Cleveland Thursday, Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 points, Luguentz Dort had 22 and Jalen Williams had 19. None of them had to play in the fourth quarter, which should help their stamina on the second night of back-to-back games.
- The Thunder do it at both ends of the court. They are sixth in overall offensive rating this season and No. 1 on the defensive end. They have built their team with a defense-first strategy. They signed Alex Caruso, one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, to augment the core of Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Alexander, all of whom can play hard-nosed one-on-one defense.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (34-6) at MAVERICKS (22-19)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: KFAA-29, MavsTV Stream
RADIO: KEGL 97.1 FM, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
X: @ESefko
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