Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our NBA playoff coverage here at Total Apex Sports. We have moved on to the conference semifinal rounds, and the action is heating up. One of the games on tap from today’s slate features the Dallas Mavericks(55-35) hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder(62-26).
On one side of the matchup, we have an Oklahoma City Thunder squad that lost its first game of the postseason, 119-110, in Game 2. Facing adversity for the first time this postseason, will this team rise to the occasion or crumble under pressure?
On the other hand, following a 22-point blowout loss in the opener, the Mavericks responded with a much-needed win in Game 2 to even the series at one game apiece. In their first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Mavericks won Game 2 on the road and went on to win the series in six games. Will that same trend unfold in this series as well?
Now that we have set the stage for this Game 3 matchup let’s dive into the betting trends for both teams.
Mavericks vs. Thunder Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | MoneyLine |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +2
-108 |
O 218
-108 |
+120 |
| Dallas Mavericks | -2
-112 |
U 218
-112 |
-142 |
| **Odds Subject to Change** | |||
Mavericks vs. Thunder Game Details
- Fixture: Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- Date and Time: Saturday, May 11, 2024 @ 3:300 PM ET
- Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Apex Tale of the Tape
|
Dallas Mavericks |
vs. |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 5-3 | Record | 5-1 |
| 107.0 | Points Per Game | 108.0 |
| 45.6 | FG% | 47.4 |
| 35.1 | 3PT% | 39.1 |
| 42.1 | Rebounds Per Game | 44.2 |
| 103.6 | Points Allowed Per Game | 95.3 |
| 44.1 | Defensive FG% | 40.8 |
| 38.0 | Defensive 3PT% | 32.0 |
| 80.0 | Defensive FT% | 78.8 |
| 31.8 | Defensive Rebounds Per Game | 32.2 |
| 3-2 | Last 5 W-L | 4-1 |
| 100.1 | Team Pace | 99.8 |
Key Stats
Dallas Mavericks
- The Mavericks have successfully covered the spread five times in their last seven contests.
- Dallas has an against-the-spread record of 9-2 in its last 11 games at home.
- In their last six May games, the Mavericks have a 4-2 record against the spread.
Oklahoma City Thunder
- The Thunder have covered the spread eight times across their last 10 contests.
- OKC has an impressive against-the-spread mark of 9-3 in its last 12 matchups against the Mavericks.
- However, the Thunder have covered the spread only twice in their last seven “road” matchups.
- Additionally, OKC is just 2-6 against the spread in its last eight May games.
Injury Report
Dallas Mavericks
- Maxi Kleber — OUT (Shoulder)
- Olivier-Maxence Prosper — OUT (Ankle)
Oklahoma City Thunder
- No injuries to report
Game Predictions
The Spread
Following their nine-point win in Game 2, the oddsmakers have installed the Mavericks as a 2.5-point favorite heading into Game 3 (per BleacherNation.com).
The Mavericks have been favored to win by 2.5 points or more 43 times this season. They are 28-15 ATS in those contests. Meanwhile, OKC has been an underdog of 2.5 points or more 14 times this season. In those contests its against-the-spread record is 7-6-1.
Given the small spread, I like the road team’s chances of covering here.
Over/Under
The projected over/under total for this matchup opened at 219.5 points, but the line has recently moved to 218 points (per Pre-Game.com). Here are a few trends that suggest why going with the “OVER” is the smart choice.
- The OVER total is a perfect 5-0 in the Thunder’s last five games.
- In the Mavericks’ last five outings, the OVER total has cashed in four times
- The total has gone OVER 80 percent of the time in Dallas’s last 10 matchups against OKC (8-2).
- The OVER total has emerged victorious in each of the Mavericks’ last five contests.
Final Picks
Oklahoma City Thunder +2 (-108) and Over 222 (-108)
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