The Dallas Mavericks are traveling to play the first game of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m.
Dallas comes into this series after a tough six-game series against the Los Angeles Clippers, while the Thunder managed to beat the New Orleans Pelicans in just four games.
This series will showcase two players who ended up in the top ranks for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award, featuring Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, both likely to get first-place votes. top three Dallas has been led on the offensive side by their star guards Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who have been some of the most impactful players for any team during the playoffs.
Doncic scored an impressive 29.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 9.5 assists during the six-game series against the Los Angeles Clippers, while also playing a team-high 42.5 minutes per game.
Doncic averaged Irving closely followed Doncic in scoring with 26.5 points per game, but his efficiency was particularly notable as he shot 51.4% from the field and 44.9% from behind the three-point line.
The Mavericks are likely to focus on defense in this series as they aim to slow down Gilgeous-Alexander, with two midseason acquisitions being key to their defense.
Forward P.J. Washington and center Daniel Gafford, who were acquired earlier this year in trades, started all six games in the first series and helped limit the Clippers to 43.4% shooting from the field and just 100.3 points per game.
Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd talked about their impact since arriving in Dallas and mentioned that the two have become “very important when you look at the culture of our team.” shooting “Our defense changed when they got here. They’re not going to complain. You don’t have to run a play for them,” he added, citing NBA.com.
Despite forward Maxi Kleber being unable to play in this series due to a separated right shoulder, guard Tim Hardaway Jr. is expected to return from an ankle injury in Game 1. spoke Hardaway Jr. struggled in the one full game he played against the Clippers, scoring six points in 16 minutes, but was a significant part of the team’s rotation during the regular season.
The 12-year veteran averaged 14.4 points while playing 26.8 minutes per game during the regular season and was often the first player Kidd turned to off the bench.
Oklahoma City is not expected to be missing any key players leading into the start of this series. diagnosed The Dallas Mavericks are traveling to play the first game of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Dallas comes into this series after a tough six-game series against the Los Angeles Clippers, while the Thunder managed to beat the New Orleans Pelicans in just […]
Hardaway Jr. struggled in the one full game he played against the Clippers, scoring six points in 16 minutes, but was an important part of the team’s rotation throughout the regular season.
The 12-year veteran averaged 14.4 points while playing 26.8 minutes per game during the regular season and was often the first player Kidd went to off the bench.
Oklahoma City is not currently expected to be missing any key rotation players leading into the start of this series.
