Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 17/05/2024, 20:52  by Devesh Jaganath in NBA Predictions

The Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma Thunder will resume their NBA Playoff battle when they face off in Game 6 at the American Airlines Center on Saturday night. The Mavericks currently lead the series 3-2. 

Following an underwhelming performance in Game 4 that allowed OKC to level the series two apiece, the Dallas Mavericks rebounded decisively in Game 5. They seized control early and never relinquished the lead, securing a 104-92 win and moving within one victory of the Conference final. Despite playing through injury, Luka Doncic was the standout performer, delivering an impressive 31 points, ten rebounds, and 11 assists - his third 30-point triple-double in playoff history. In addition, Doncic made a huge block on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the last minute of regulation time, which ultimately sealed the win for Dallas. The Mavericks’ defensive strength was evident last time out as they held the Thunder to below 100 points for the first time in this series. Dallas limited OKC to just 42.5% shooting, including 25% from beyond the arc, and restricted them to just ten free throw attempts in total. A similar performance in the next game could see the Mavs wrap up the series in front of their home fans.

Meanwhile, despite another heroic effort from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who posted his fourth consecutive 30+ point game with 30 points, eight assists, and two steals, it was not enough to keep up with the Mavs in Game 5. SGA was the only Thunder player to score more than 13 points. Dallas pushed their lead to 18 points early in the fourth quarter before the Thunder mounted a comeback. A 3-pointer by Gilgeous-Alexander reduced the deficit to 89-79 with just under seven minutes remaining. However, with SGA seemingly the only player able to challenge the Mavs' defense, the Thunder never got closer than seven points for the rest of the game. OKC's primary strength in the regular season was their defense, but they appeared disorganized in the last match. Unless they can regroup and find a way to contain Doncic, they risk being eliminated from the competition by the end of the night.