Mavs vs. Thunder Preview: Can Dallas Find Stability After Roller-Coaster Start?

The 2022-23 NBA season has been a roller-coaster experience for the Dallas Mavericks, and never the enjoyable sort.

Via 26 video games, the Mavs discover themselves with a 13-13 document and barely clinging to the tenth spot within the Western Convention standings, which is the final Play-In Match spot. There’s nonetheless an extended technique to go, however the Mavs’ entrance workplace cannot be proud of how this present roster has gotten off to one more gradual begin for the third consecutive yr – particularly when contemplating that Luka Doncic got here into the season in wonderful form and has carried out at an MVP stage.

Coming off a demoralizing 144-115 blowout loss to the Chicago Bulls in a sport the place Doncic rested, the Mavs will attempt to rebound at American Airways Heart in opposition to the younger Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. The excellent news? The Mavs have had a day of relaxation and maintain a 10-4 document at residence. The unhealthy information? A kind of 4 residence losses got here in opposition to this OKC squad on the finish of October in what was a historic meltdown.

After main by 16 factors with lower than 4 minutes to go in that Oct. 29 matchup at AAC, the Mavs by some means blew their lead en path to a 117-111 loss in additional time. NBA groups have been 9,975-1 when main by a minimum of 16 factors within the last 4 minutes earlier than that sport, and the Mavs managed to make that 9,975-2.

“That’s on me,” Doncic mentioned. “I didn’t lead the workforce. I didn’t make pictures. I didn’t do what wanted to be accomplished to win.”

Doncic and the Mavs will attempt to avenge that embarrassing loss whereas additionally making an attempt to crawl again over .500 after back-to-back disappointing losses. It is going to be simpler mentioned than accomplished, although, as OKC star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having a career-best season by averaging 30.8 factors per sport on 50.1-percent capturing. He put up 38 factors on the Mavs within the groups’ first assembly.

For Dallas, there was a scarcity of stability this season, and to achieve its preseason targets of constructing on a Western Convention Finals look, that might want to change before later. Can stability be achieved with the present roster, or is a shakeup wanted? We’ll discover out for certain within the coming month as commerce rumors warmth up.

RECORDS: Dallas Mavericks (13-13), Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (11-15)

WHEN: Monday, December 12, 2022 – 7:30 p.m. CT

WHERE: American Airways Heart (Dallas, TX)

TV: Bally Sports activities Southwest, NBA League Cross

RADIO: 97.1 The Freak, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

ODDS: The Mavs are 8.5-point favorites over the Thunder.

NEXT UP: The Mavs proceed their three-game homestand in opposition to Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday earlier than wrapping issues up in opposition to Damian Lillard and the Portland Path Blazers on Friday.

FINAL WORD: “It’s troublesome, however it’s no excuses,” mentioned Christian Wooden, who put up 21 factors and 9 rebounds in his first begin of the season in opposition to the Bulls. “I feel we may have undoubtedly made it a winnable sport tonight, however no excuses. You may say we solely had 12 hours of journey and have been working on sleep. We simply acquired to be higher energy-wise and defensively.”

Need the most recent in breaking information and insider data on the Dallas Mavericks? Click on Right here.

Observe DallasBasketball.com on Twitter and Fb.