Oklahoma City Thunder

vs

Dallas Mavericks

Preview

The story so far

Since the second matchup between these teams the Thunder have been a team on the rise while the Mavericks have swooned. The first real trade of the season just occurred involving the Mavericks and Washington and this will be the first game Dallas gets to test its new lineup. Haywood liked playing the Thunder so much that when the Wizards got done playing them he moved to a team with two more games against them. Between Caron Butler and Haywood it is easy to see how the Mavericks could get better but it will be a question of chemistry at first. The Thunder need a win over the Mavericks to salvage a chance to split the season series. According to Hollingers Playoff odds the Mavericks and Thunder will be neck and neck in the battle for the four seed making games against them potentially a little more important. How cool would it be for the Thunder to be hosting a playoff series, think about that for a minute, now wipe the drool off your chin.

The Matchups

Jason Kidd v Russell Westbrook

Kidd versus the Kid. Jason Kidd was a last minute selection to the All Star game, he was chosen over Russell Westbrook and that probably has to sting a little. Put that chip up on your shoulder Westbrook and show them why you should have been the selection. In Dallas Durant struggled and the bench really bailed out the Thunder and kept it close enough to win. Tonight Durant will probably have issues again with Marion and Westbrook will need to step up and take good shots and don't turn the ball over.

Edge

Caron Butler v Thabo Sefolosha

How will Butler fit into the rotation for the Mavericks, with Josh Howard a member of the Wizards will Butler inherit his shots or will the Mavs rely more on Nowitzki and Haywood. Butler will draw a tough matchup with Sefolosha in his first game as a Maverick. Sefolosha was one of the Thunder players dealing with injuries that should be helped by the time off. The Thunder was doing a much better job of getting him involved in the offense cutting to the basket when they went to the break, hopefully the Thunder will have some new tricks on the offensive side tonight.

Edge

Shawn Marion v Kevin Durant

Once is an accident, twice is coincidence, but three times and it's a pattern. KD vs Marion first time KD 4-18, second time 6-18. This will be the third time KD has gone up against Marion and hopefully tonight he will buck the trend. There are some positives from the first matchup to the second in the first KD was 4-18 for only 12 points he only got to the line 4 times and went 1-5 from three in the second KD was 6-18 but this time had 30 points, was 4-5 from three, and got to the line 16 times. The real killer in the second game was the 8 turnovers KD had. Taking care of the ball will be a key tonight as the Thunder are not likely to be able to overcome a lot of turnovers. KD needs 36 to take the scoring lead from Lebron so let's go get it.

Edge

Dirk Nowitzki v Jeff Green

Dirk is a tough matchup for anyone, Green has done okay against Nowitzki but doesn't have the length to bother him on that fade away jumper. Green took great advantage of the mismatch going 7-11 in the first matchup but struggled in the second to the tune of 4-13. Green has really started to turn it on since his 14 minute game in Chicago but still has bad games, tonight the Thunder will really need him to step in and get the Thunder started off right. Against Portland Green was much better than his 7-16 and 1-6 boxscore would indicate, he fired off 4 3 point shots at the end of the shot clock while the Thunder were just going through the motions waiting for the time to run off the clock.

Edge

Brendan Haywood v Nenad Krstic

Haywood has torn up the Thunder when he played against them. Haywood went 8-12 for 16 and 17 in the first and 7-9 for 16 and 8 in the second. Haywood is playing for a contract and having a career year which could be a great combination for the Mavericks. Krstic has been a solid role player both time out against the Mavericks and both games against the Wizards so unless the move to Dallas is a perfect storm of defense and such you can probably expect another 4-6 night from Krstic tonight.

Edge

Bench v Bench

With the loss of Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, and filler the Mavs bench got a little shorter. JJ Barea will be the back up point and that allows Jason Terry to slide back into the sixth man role. Erick Dampier might start at center but will probably cede most of the minutes to Haywood. Terry will probably benefit from the move the most and up his scoring.

Ibaka is probably the main man tonight, he has the height and length to bother Nowitzki and if he can play some defense like he did against Aldridge in Portland the Thunder could really have a great chance. Collison continues to be a solid option and looks like he should be all the way back from a concussion that appeared to still be lingering. Harden had a great game at the Rookie Sophmore game his offense off the bench could really help tonight. Maynor has not been much more than a solid back up point guard and might be hitting the rookie wall.

Edge

The Prediction

We as Thunder fans should have all contributed to a slush fund to try and bribe Royce of the Daily Thunder to kidnap Dirk while he was down in Dallas. Alas another opportunity passes us by. Did Durant get the MJ treatment from Williams and Billups in the All star game? I kinda felt Williams was not looking to pass to Durant. Same for Billups but at least Billups was making his shots. Williams was definitely the LVP of his first all star game and some of that has to be his reluctance to pass. But anyway we got a little off topic. Durant will show tonight what he is capable of doing in Dallas. Marion got the better of him twice but given the progress Durant made from the first match to the second it won't happen again.

Thunder win 103-99

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