The Dallas Mavericks will advance to the NBA Playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season and will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
DALLAS — The Western Conference playoff spots are now down to four teams, with the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder competing for a chance to face the winner of Denver vs. Minnesota in a best-of-seven series starting Tuesday night. NBA Finals.
The West Regional semifinal matchup is about more than just basketball, as both teams are just a three-hour drive from each other. Braum's vs. Whataburger. Dallas City vs. Oklahoma Town. It's about Panhandle pride. Dallas will face off against the northern suburbs' only professional sports franchise. Duels take place not only on the court, but also in a wide range of friendships, homes, and office hallways.
In a perfect follow-up to Dallas closing the door on aging playoff rival Los Angeles, the Mavericks shift their focus to the upstart Thunder. The No. 1 seed, the youngest in league history, has a deep roster led by guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a 25-year-old MVP candidate and the elder statesman of Oklahoma City's playoff rotation.
Alexander arrived in OKC thanks to Paul George's forced signing of the Clippers in the summer of 2019 and grew with the franchise, accumulating draft picks and assets to build around him. Alexander, in his sixth season, ranks third in scoring behind Dallas phenom Luka Doncic and former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, but has been rated by the All-American as OKC's promise as a top contender in the West. It received even greater praise.
In some poetic justice, a season-long battle for the award between SGA and Doncic will throw both teams' rosters into contention, giving the winner the added carrot of advancing to the conference finals.
Anchoring SGA in Oklahoma State's backcourt is third-year swingman Josh Guidi, who has been shifted to a shooting guard role as the Thunder incorporate a slew of lottery picks into their rotation. Guidi's scoring output was lower than last year, as the Thunder expanded their offense with the addition of recent draftees Jaylen Williams and Chet Holmgren. A frontcourt of Williams (19.1 points) and Holmgren (16.5 points) make up the Thunder's second and third scoring options.
With 24-year-old Luguentz Dort rounding out the starting five, the Mavs will be tasked with protecting the 3-point line with their entire starting unit. In the 2023-2024 season, the Thunder led the league in 3-point percentage with 23-year-old marksman Williams hitting 43%.
A change of pace from the isolation-heavy Clippers offense, Oklahoma likes to play fast and spread the ball. Dallas needs to adjust and keep up the pace, and there's no room for tired legs to wait.
The biggest sign of the Mavs defeating the Clippers in the first round was the team's cohesiveness, especially between Doncic and established running mate Kyrie Irving. Have you ever asked, “Can I play with you?” Although he was gone long before the playoff series winner, Irving proved to be the team's leader throughout the series and in every press conference.
With Irving returning to his former playoff heroics and taking over the game, Doncic, clearly dealing with the knee soreness that limited him during the series against Los Angeles, is left alone to carry the load. You will be able to focus on contributing to victory instead of carrying the burden on your shoulders.
The Mavs' collective buy-in saw Doncic's defensive efforts recognized by national experts, P.J. Washington rushing back to the team, and euphoria over the roster rebuild that began to solidify at the end of the regular season.
While the Luka and Shai storyline may be the main focus of this series, the Mavericks' incredible luck with adding Irving to the roster means that Dallas, which has suffered two heartbreaking series losses to Los Angeles in the past five years, will They made the difference in defeating the Clippers this year. Irving could very well be the driving force as the Mavs seek to reach the West Conference Finals for the second time in three seasons.
The Mavs will have to play at a faster pace against OKC, so Irving and Doncic's assist numbers will likely increase as lobs and spot-up threes become more open. Los Angeles' declining stars aged out in the last round, and Dallas needn't fear a similar fate. It's clear the Thunder are trying to force the Mavs out of the gym, but their rotation has the ability to push the tempo.
Oklahoma is highly regarded for having a top-notch young roster, but the Mavericks aren't far behind when it comes to big minute players. Irving is only 31 years old and a veteran of the starting rotation. Defensive wizard Derrick Jones Jr. turned 27 in mid-February. Doncic, Washington, and Daniel Gafford are only 25 years old. The wildest of them all is Luka, who is younger than Gilgeous-Alexander. So for all the youngsters on the Sooner State team, Dallas doesn't need Walker to run the court.
The Mavericks and Thunder will play every other day starting Tuesday until at least Game 4 on May 13. If the series is extended, Game 7 will be played on Monday, May 20th in OKC.
The interstate rivalry is timeless and has smoldered in basketball since the teams of the early 2010s a generation ago. With their overall star power and roster control, and Dallas' superstar duo, a matchup in this region could spark the next big NBA feud.
Do you think the Mavericks will beat the West's top seed? Share your prediction with Irvin on Twitter @Twittirv.
