Mavericks vs. Thunder: Series Preview

6. Dallas Mavericks (42-40) vs. 3. Oklahoma City Thunder (55-27)
Western Conference Quartefinals

Schedule
Game 1 at OKC: Sat. Apr. 16 at 8:30, Ch.21, ESPN
Game 2 at OKC: Mon. Apr. 18 at 7:00, Ch. 21, TNT
Game 3 at Dallas: Thu. Apr. 21 at 6:00, Ch. 21, TNT
Game 4 at Dallas: Sat. Apr. 23 at 7:00, Ch. 21, ESPN
Game 5 at OKC: Mon. Apr. 25 at TBA, Ch. 21, TBA (if necessary)
Game 6 at Dallas: Thu. Apr. 28 at TBA, Ch. 21, TBA (if necessary)
Game 7 at OKC: Sat. Apr. 30 at TBA, Ch. 21, TNT (if necessary)

2015-16 Matchups
Nov. 22 at OKC
Thunder 117 Mavs 114
Jan. 13 at OKC
Thunder 108 Mavs 89
Jan. 22 at Dallas
Thunder 109 Mavs 106
Feb. 24 at Dallas
Thunder 116 Mavs 103

All-Time Regular Season Results
Sonics-Thunder 77 Mavs 70

All-Time Playoff Results
1984 West Quaterfinals
Mavs 3 Sonics 2
1987 West Quartefinals
Sonics 3 Mavs 1
2011 West Finals
Mavs 4 Thunder 1
2012 West Quarterfinals
Thunder 4 Mavs 0

Team Stats
Mavs
Off. Rating: 104.8 (10th)
Def. Rating: 104.3 (16h)
Point Differential: -0.3
Thunder
Offense: 109.9 (2nd)
Defense: 103.0 (12th)
Point Differential: +7.3

Projected Starters
Mavs
PG: Deron Williams
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: Justin Anderson
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Zaza Pachulia
Thunder
PG: Russell Westbrook
SG: Andre Roberson
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Serge Ibaka
C: Steven Adams

Team Leaders

Mavs
PPG: Nowitzki, 18.3
RPG: Pachulia, 9.4
APG: Williams, 5.8
PER: Nowitzki, 19.0
Thunder
PPG: Durant, 28.2
RPG: Durant, 8.2
APG: Westbrook, 10.4
PER: Durant, 28.2

Of Note

• The Mavericks are in the playoffs for the 15th time in 16 seasons. They made it only 6 times in their first 20 years of existence and went 10 years without an appearance (1991-2000) 
• The Mavs have lost 3 straight first round series since winning the 2011 championship. They got swept by the Thunder in 2012, lost to the Spurs in 7 in 2014 and lost to the Rockets in 5 last year. They are 1-8 in road games in those 3 series.
• Prior to getting swept in the season series this year by the Thunder, the Mavs had taken 5 out of 6 from OKC. Prior to that they had lost 7 in a row to them.
• J.J. Barea (groin) and Devin Harris (thumb) are expected to play in Game 1 after both missed the regular season finale. David Lee (plantar fasciitis) is not expected to play.
• Dirk (25.4 points, 10.2 rebounds) is one of only 4 players in NBA history to average 25 points and 10 rebounds per game for their playoff career. Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor and Hakeem Olajuwon are the others.
• Russell Westbrook had 18 triple-doubles this season, tying Magic Johnson in 1981-82 for the most triple-doubles in nearly 50 years.
• In 3 games against the Thunder this year, Salah Mejri totaled 24 points, 16 rebounds and 7 blocks in 42 minutes. He blocked both Durant and Westbrook in key moments of those games.

Prediction
Just making the playoffs this season was a huge accomplishment for the Mavericks. Winning a series will prove far more difficult. They are at a huge talent deficit against the Thunder that is only exasperated by the absence of Chandler Parsons and other assorted injuries to key players like Barea, Harris, and Lee. Rick Carlisle will have a big coaching advantage over playoff newcomer Billy Donovan. That could be engough to take a game and if things go really right maybe 2, but Durant and Westbrook and company will be too much for this gutty Mavs bunch to handle.
Thunder in 5