CLICK HERE TO JOIN BETONLINE.COM – ONE OF OUR TOP RATED ONLINE SPORTSBOOKS – HUGE SIGN UP BONUS FOR NBA BETTING ONLINE<\/a><\/h3>\nDallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
\nDate: Saturday, May 21, 9:00 p.m. ET
\nVenue: Ford Center
\nBroadcast: ESPN
\nMavericks vs. Thunder betting lines from BetOnline.com
\nMoney Line: Thunder -145, Mavs +125
\nSpread: Thunder -2.5
\nOver\/Under: 200.5<\/strong>
\n Click here for indepth NBA ATS Stats —><\/strong><\/a>
\nBet Now @ BetOnline.com<\/strong><\/a>
\nChat About NBA Handicapping In Our Forums Today –><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nThe Rapture is supposedly coming Saturday, and Dallas Mavericks and Okalahoma City fans are clamoring to know who is the one true Savior\u2014Dirk Nowitzki or Kevin Durant? They\u2019ll lead their teams into Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, with the series tied at one win apiece.<\/p>\n
The Thunder grinded out a 106-100 win on Thursday, tying up the series after getting manhandled by Nowitzki and Co. in Game 1. Durant was typically impressive, going 11-for-23 from the field with a team-high 24 points. This time, though, Durant had some help.<\/p>\n
Oklahoma City\u2019s bench was outscored by Jason Terry alone in Game 1, but James Harden stepped up and buried four three-pointers in Game 2, finishing with 23 points. Fellow reserve Eric Maynor added 13 points, as OKC got nearly half its points from the bench.<\/p>\n
The Russell Westbrook saga took a bizarre twist, though. Westbrook\u2019s shooting has been atrocious in the postseason, but he was a very respectable 7-for-15 on Thursday, en route to an 18-point evening. Still, when Oklahoma City blew a lead in the third quarter, head coach Scotty Brooks elected to bench Westbrook for the entire fourth period. The move paid off, as Durant and four reserves finished off the game. ![\"Lifetime](\"http:\/\/partners.commission.bz\/processing\/impressions.asp?btag=a_805b_660\")
<\/a><\/p>\nNowitzki suffered through a mirror-image performance of Durant in Game 1. While the big German played a fine game, posting 29 points, five assists and five rebounds, his teammates were nowhere to be found. Terry was massive in Dallas\u2019 series-opening win, but he managed just eight points this time around. J.J. Barea, who scored 21 points in the opener, had just 11 points in Game 2.<\/p>\n
Bench play looks like it\u2019s going to be a major factor moving forward. The Mavericks won Game 1 after having a 53-22 advantage in bench points, while the Thunder reserves outscored Dallas 50-29 in Game 2.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, though, the Westbrook benching is the biggest lingering question. Brooks\u2019 decision to bench Westbrook was reminiscent of an Evil Knievel stunt\u2014it\u2019s hard to tell where he drew the line between guts and stupidity. The move paid off, but we\u2019re waiting to see how it affects the Thunder moving forward. Does Westbrook take the mature route, shake off the benching and play great in Game 3? Or does he pout and throw a wrench in the championship drive?<\/p>\n
I\u2019m leaning toward the former, as Westbrook was spotted cheering on his teammates during the fourth-quarter benching once he finally calmed down. The crowd will get behind him, too, and the Thunder should explode in a Game 3 victory.<\/p>\n
\nDate: Saturday, May 21, 9:00 p.m. ET
\nVenue: Ford Center
\nBroadcast: ESPN
\nMavericks vs. Thunder betting lines from BetOnline.com
\nMoney Line: Thunder -145, Mavs +125
\nSpread: Thunder -2.5
\nOver\/Under: 200.5<\/strong>
\n Click here for indepth NBA ATS Stats —><\/strong><\/a>
\nBet Now @ BetOnline.com<\/strong><\/a>
\nChat About NBA Handicapping In Our Forums Today –><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
The Rapture is supposedly coming Saturday, and Dallas Mavericks and Okalahoma City fans are clamoring to know who is the one true Savior\u2014Dirk Nowitzki or Kevin Durant? They\u2019ll lead their teams into Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, with the series tied at one win apiece.<\/p>\n
The Thunder grinded out a 106-100 win on Thursday, tying up the series after getting manhandled by Nowitzki and Co. in Game 1. Durant was typically impressive, going 11-for-23 from the field with a team-high 24 points. This time, though, Durant had some help.<\/p>\n
Oklahoma City\u2019s bench was outscored by Jason Terry alone in Game 1, but James Harden stepped up and buried four three-pointers in Game 2, finishing with 23 points. Fellow reserve Eric Maynor added 13 points, as OKC got nearly half its points from the bench.<\/p>\n
The Russell Westbrook saga took a bizarre twist, though. Westbrook\u2019s shooting has been atrocious in the postseason, but he was a very respectable 7-for-15 on Thursday, en route to an 18-point evening. Still, when Oklahoma City blew a lead in the third quarter, head coach Scotty Brooks elected to bench Westbrook for the entire fourth period. The move paid off, as Durant and four reserves finished off the game. Nowitzki suffered through a mirror-image performance of Durant in Game 1. While the big German played a fine game, posting 29 points, five assists and five rebounds, his teammates were nowhere to be found. Terry was massive in Dallas\u2019 series-opening win, but he managed just eight points this time around. J.J. Barea, who scored 21 points in the opener, had just 11 points in Game 2.<\/p>\n Bench play looks like it\u2019s going to be a major factor moving forward. The Mavericks won Game 1 after having a 53-22 advantage in bench points, while the Thunder reserves outscored Dallas 50-29 in Game 2.<\/p>\n Ultimately, though, the Westbrook benching is the biggest lingering question. Brooks\u2019 decision to bench Westbrook was reminiscent of an Evil Knievel stunt\u2014it\u2019s hard to tell where he drew the line between guts and stupidity. The move paid off, but we\u2019re waiting to see how it affects the Thunder moving forward. Does Westbrook take the mature route, shake off the benching and play great in Game 3? Or does he pout and throw a wrench in the championship drive?<\/p>\n I\u2019m leaning toward the former, as Westbrook was spotted cheering on his teammates during the fourth-quarter benching once he finally calmed down. The crowd will get behind him, too, and the Thunder should explode in a Game 3 victory.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n