Thunder Meets Mavericks in Important Western Conference Showdown
On Wednesday, a showdown in the NBA Western Conference highlight the schedule when the Oklahoma City Thunder visits the Dallas Mavericks. The current line has Oklahoma City favored by 4.5 points with the over/under point total sitting on 214.5.
Oklahoma City on the season has an overall record of 40-16 straight up and 22-34 against the spread. The Thunder on the road is 15-9 SU and 7-17 ATS.
Dallas on the season has a record of 30-27 SU and 31-25 ATS. At home, the Mavericks are 16-11 SU and 17-10 ATS.
The Thunder is looking to end the season with a four-game sweep over Dallas on Wednesday. This season, the Thunder has won on two occasions by three points while winning by 19 points in another meeting. However, Oklahoma City is coming off two straight losses at home.
Dallas has not been playing well of late. On Sunday, the Mavericks won 129-103, but it was only the team’s second victory in the past seven games. The Mavericks are tied for sixth spot in the Western Conference, but only 2 games in front of ninth place Houston with only eight teams qualifying.
Oklahoma City considers themselves a title contender but the loss to Cleveland, its second against the Cavaliers, could have been a wakeup call to the Thunder they still are not as good as they might think.
Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are not hitting the panic button, but are saying the team must regroup and move forward as it still is just the regular season and not the playoffs.
David Lee, who was recently picked up by Dallas, could debut for the Mavericks on Wednesday. The veteran is not the force down low he used to be, but could help Dallas off the bench and with his experience.
Oklahoma City ended a losing streak of three games in Dallas with a 109-106 win on January 22.
Durant has recorded 20 points or more in 41 consecutive games played.
Dirk Nowitzki a veteran forward for Dallas surpassed the career points mark of 29,000 versus Philadelphia last weekend and is now No. 6 all time in the league.
The OVER has cashed in 4 of the past 5 games between these two Western Conference rivals.
Prediction: The Oklahoma City Thunder are battling to keep third place and evenly possibly catch second place San Antonio while Dallas is trying to stay alive in the playoff race. The Thunder were humiliated by Cleveland and will take that out on Dallas. Lean toward Thunder.
