NBA Odds: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks Preview & Game 2 Free Pick
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Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks
Date: Thursday, May 19, 9:00 p.m. ET
Venue: American Airlines Center
Broadcast: ESPN
Thunder vs. Mavericks betting lines from BetOnline.com.com
Money Line: OKC +200, Dallas -240
Spread: Dallas 5.5
Over/Under: 200
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Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks absolutely dominated the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday. They’ll go for an encore performance in Game 2 on Thursday’s NBA odds.
Wow. That’s the best way to describe Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas’ 121-112 victory in Game 1. The big German was more unconscious than a freshman at his first college kegger, draining 12 of his 15 field goal attempts, making all 24 free throws, and finishing with 48 points, six rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots. A truly virtuoso performance from the veteran.
Nowitzki had a few partners in crime, though, as Jason Terry and J.J. Barea were tremendous off the bench. Terry (8-for-16) finished with 24 points while Barea (8-for-12) chipped in 21 of his own. All in all, the Mavs shot a blistering 53.4 percent from the field.
The Thunder unloaded 112 points on the Mavericks, and they might have pulled out the win had the bench delivered a stronger effort. Terry outscored OKC’s bench all by himself, as the Thunder reserves combined for just 22 points. That’s not going to get the job done.
Who is going to get the job done, however, is Kevin Durant. Durant poured in yet another masterful performance, racking up 40 points, eight rebounds, five assists and a pair of blocks. But while one-man bands look pretty amazing—smashing their drums, blowing the harmonica and jamming on a guitar in unison—they’re never going to host a sellout crowd in a 20,000-man arena. Likewise, a one-man band consisting of Durant is never going to win a championship.
That’s why the Thunder desperately need Russell Westbrook to shoot the ball better. The dynamic point guard had 20 points on Tuesday but was just 3-for-15 from the field—far too many wasted opportunities.
Durant is already doing everything he can. Though Oklahoma City’s chances of winning the series are sliding, chances are somebody will step up and give the superstar a hand on Thursday—and help the Thunder to a win and cover.
Oklahoma City at Dallas pick: Thunder
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Ian Van Den Hurk has covered amateur and pro sports for years, including a successful run handicapping anything from football to mixed martial arts.
