The Oklahoma City Thunder (3-0) will try to stretch their three‑game winning streak when they face the Dallas Mavericks (2-2) on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. Central Time. Both clubs sit in the Western Conference, with the Thunder holding second place and the Mavericks sitting seventh.
Recent performance and season stats
Last season the Mavericks posted a 26‑56 overall record, going 14‑37 in the West and 16‑25 at home. They averaged 114.1 points per game while allowing opponents to score 119.6. The Thunder, by contrast, finished 64‑18 overall and 41‑11 in conference play, posting 25.8 assists per game on 43.1 made field goals.
Injury report
The Mavericks enter the game with a long injury list: forward Tarik Biberovic (heel), guard Caleb Martin (thumb) and forward Dereck Lively II (foot) are out, while Sergio De Larrea (knee), Naji Marshall (illness) and Santi Aldama (knee) are listed day‑to‑day. Dallas will also be without forward Naji Marshall, who is sidelined with an illness.
The Thunder are not at full strength either. Center Cason Wallace (shoulder), forward Nikola Topic (back) and guard Thomas Sorber (knee) are out, as are forward Chet Holmgren (knee) and forward Jalen Williams (ankle). Guard Alex Caruso is listed day‑to‑day with an ankle issue.
Key players to watch
For Oklahoma City, the focus will be on the playmaking of Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander and the interior presence of Chet Holmgren when he returns. Dallas will rely heavily on Luka Doncic’s scoring and playmaking, hoping that the supporting cast can step up despite the injuries.
What the win means
A victory would give the Thunder a 4‑0 start and further solidify their position near the top of the West, while a win for Dallas would help them climb out of the .500 mark and build confidence heading into the second half of the season.
Looking ahead
Both teams have challenging schedules ahead. The Thunder will next travel to face the Denver Nuggets, while the Mavericks host the Phoenix Suns in their next home game. Fans in Oklahoma City can expect a hard‑fought contest as both clubs vie for early‑season positioning.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
