NBA Odds: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks Preview & Game 5 Free Pick
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Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks
Date: Wednesday, May 25, 9:00 p.m. ET
Venue: American Airlines Center
Broadcast: ESPN
Thunder vs. Mavericks betting lines from BetOnline.com
Money Line:
Spread: Dallas -6.5
Over/Under: 198.5
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After blowing a huge lead with just a few minutes to play, the Oklahoma City Thunder fell apart in overtime and lost 112-105 to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. The Mavericks lead the series 3-1 and can advance to the NBA Finals with a win in Game 5.
The Thunder suffered a meltdown of epic proportions, blowing a 15-point lead with five remaining in Game 4. Oklahoma City’s inexperience is seemingly catching up with the club, while Dallas is relying on a core of veterans to carry the day.
The best, of course, has been Dirk Nowitzki. It’s getting tougher to come up with new superlatives for the forward, who has been nothing short of brilliant in the series. Nowitzki scored 40 points on Monday, including 12 during Dallas’ 17-2 comeback run. Nowitzki has topped 40 points twice in the series and is shooting over 50 percent from the floor during the postseason.
Nowitzki got some nice help from his supporting cast. Jason Terry ripped off 20 points and five rebounds from the bench, while Jason Kidd chipped in 17 points, seven assists and five boards.
Now, focus truly shifts to the Thunder’s young stars, and whether or not they have the mettle to dig themselves out of this hole. It’s hard to critique the Thunder too much, as they dominated the game until the closing minutes. Kevin Durant led the way with 29 points and 15 rebounds, while Russell Westbrook added 19 points, eight assists and eight rebounds (though he continued shooting poorly, going 7-for-22 from the field).
Even the role players stepped up, with Serge Ibaka (18 points) and Thabo Sefolosha (12 points) scoring in double figures. Overall, Oklahoma City shot 46.7 percent from the field and outrebounded Dallas 55-33.
This will be an incredibly tough loss to bounce back from, especially after controlling most of the game. Dallas is dialed in, and the young Thunder squad may not have much left in the tank. The Mavericks sensed the moment and crushed the Lakers in Game 4 of the last round; expect a similar result on Wednesday night.
Oklahoma City at Dallas pick: Mavericks
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Ian Van Den Hurk has covered amateur and pro sports for years, including a successful run handicapping anything from football to mixed martial arts.
