Everything went completely right for the Oklahoma City Thunder during their dominant win over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1. But that’s not going to matter once Game 2 tips off tonight, and you can also expect that the Mavs have made the necessary adjustments to (hopefully) make things more competitive. Who will emerge victorious this time around?
Read on below for everything you need to know about this match. And while you’re at it, check out our preview of Game 2 between the Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Preview
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
When: Monday, April 18, 2016, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Dallas Mavericks (+13.5) at Oklahoma City Thunder (-13.5); total: 200.5 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
Betting on the Dallas Mavericks
Unfortunately, things just got a little tougher for the Mavs as two of their floor generals in Deron Williams (sports hernia) and J.J. Barea (strained groin) not likely suiting up for tonight’s contest due to injuries. With that being the case, the pressure is indeed on Raymond Felton to step up and efficiently direct the offense.
Felton, who was limited to just seven points in the opener, has performed relatively better and has stayed healthy in his second season with the Mavs. He’s averaging almost 10 points per game, grabbing 3.2 rebounds and dishing out 3.6 dimes through 80 games. More importantly, his experience should be able to help him establish his presence, and get the team in sync at the same time.
Speaking of experience, Dirk Nowitzki can provide that as well. The former league MVP was actually the lone bright spot for the Mavs in Game 1, as he posted a team-high of 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting along with four rebounds under his name. But it’s hard to see Nowitzki carrying Dallas on his shoulders alone. He’s 37 years old for crying out loud.
Hence, the Mavs desperately need Wesley Matthews to wake up from his offensive slumber. Matthews, who is averaging 12.5 points in the regular season, needs to remind his team again as for why it signed him to a huge four-year, $70 million dollar contract last summer.
Dallas is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 road games.
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Betting on the Oklahoma City Thunder
As impressive as Oklahoma City played in the opener, it still needs to make one major adjustment for this evening’s Game 2. That’s to be more careful with the rock, as the Thunder are now averaging 17 turnovers in the last three games, including 18 giveaways in Game 1.
Once this issue is fixed, it’s safe to expect that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are going to beat the hell out of a short-handed Dallas team for the second-straight time. Both All-Stars combined for 47 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists in the first game of the series.
Furthermore, the pairing of Serge Ibaka and Enes Kanter, who finished with 33 points and 22 rebounds combined in the same game, should give Dallas’ defense a couple more able bodies to worry about.
Ibaka, in particular, can also make a big impact on the other end of the floor as he ranked third in the league with 148 blocks in the regular season. And during the last three games, Ibaka’s averaging two blocks per contest.
OKC is 4-1 ATS in its previous five home games.
Writer’s Prediction
OKC (-13.5) tramples the Mavericks again, 103-88.
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