People are making predictions as the Dallas Mavericks tip off Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight.
ESPN polled NBA analysts on their predictions for the series, and the results were a firm tie. Seven selected the top-seeded Thunder, and seven selected the Mavs. All expected the series to be at least six games, with nine analysts opting for the series to be a full seven games. Analysts picking the Mavericks to win the series include Chris Herring, Israel Gutierrez, Mark Spears and Tim Legler.
The Thunder opened as small favorites to win the series on betting sites, but DraftKings' lowest series odds had the Mavericks winning six games and the Thunder narrowly winning seven games.
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Oklahoma City won the season series 3-1, but Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving only appeared in one of those games, and P.J. Washington scored a blowout 35-point win in the first game after the trade deadline. and Daniel Gafford made his debut. Doncic was injured and did not play in the next game, and Dallas didn't play anyone in the final game of the season against OKC, as their playoff seeding had already been determined.
This makes for an interesting series that pits Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, two young superstars in their prime at age 25, against two of the three finalists for the MVP award, which will be announced in the coming days. starts. Doncic led the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals two seasons ago, and the Thunder's first-round win over the Pelicans was OKC's first series win since trading for Gilgeous-Alexander in the 2019 offseason. became.
Game 1 begins tonight at 8:30 PM CST from Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
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