The Oklahoma City Thunder have plenty to play for on the final day of the regular season.
Entering Sunday as the No. 1 seed in the West, Oklahoma City is poised to earn home-court advantage through the first three rounds of the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks are locked into the fifth spot in the West and have a first-round date with the LA Clippers.
Most of the Mavericks’ rotation, including Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, will not play in game 82. If the Thunder can deliver as heavy favorites, they will secure a top-two spot in the conference, needing other results to guarantee the top seed.
Apr 12, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2)
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ODDS:
The Thunder enter the day as 19.5-point favorites against the Mavericks, and the total over/under is 224.5 points.
KEYS TO THE GAME:
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As Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after Friday’s results pushed the Thunder to the top of the West, the team needs to “run through the finish line.” With everyone good to go, capturing a big early lead should be the top priority.
However, the Mavericks’ lack of typical contributors is no reason to take the game lightly. Although none have come at home, the Thunder have suffered losses to some of the worst teams in the league this season.
Oklahoma City has also shown its ability to dominate lesser competition with 16 wins of at least 20 points, including three wins of at least 40 points. Although early start times have not always been the team’s strong suit, motivation to secure home court should be enough for a win.
Thunder rookies Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace are two of only 17 players who have not missed a game this season. Assuming they play Sunday, they will be the first Thunder players to play every game of a season since Raymond Felton and Patrick Patterson did so in the 2017-18 season.
RECORDS:
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Oklahoma City Thunder (56-25) vs. Dallas Mavericks (50-31)
INJURIES:
Check out our live injury tracker, along with our game day injury report that will release later today.
WHEN:
Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 2:30 PM CT
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LOCATION:
Paycom Center – Oklahoma City, OK
TV/RADIO:
Bally Sports Oklahoma, NBA League Pass, 98.1 FM The Sports Animal
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start Your Free Trial)
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FINAL WORD:
Throughout this season, the Thunder have consistently exceeded expectations and have the opportunity to secure the best record in the West on Sunday. Although the Thunder’s youth has caused doubts, if this regular season is any indication, they could be in for a deep playoff run.
The Thunder will start their playoff run in Paycom Center next weekend when they host a Game 1 for the first time since 2018.
Want to join the discussion? Like Inside the Thunder on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
Gavin Freeman, an Oklahoma native, will stay in-state to continue his college career. After Freeman entered the portal early last week, he wasted no time landing on his feet. He committed to Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sunday morning.
Freeman fulfilled his dream by playing football for the University of Oklahoma, just as his father, Jason Freeman, did. Still, with the Sooners looking to gear up for the SEC and adding an NFL-caliber slot receiver in Deion Burks, the sophomore saw his snaps and opportunities diminishing and opted to seek out opportunities elsewhere.
Out of Heritage Hall, he turned down scholarship offers to a few schools to walk on in Norman. Freeman made an immediate impact, scoring on his first collegiate touch against UTEP. He logged snaps in every game over the last two years as a slot receiver and Oklahoma’s primary punt returner. This past season, he caught 19 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown. He also returned 18 punts for 122 yards, one of which was returned for a score in Oklahoma’s 73-0 rout of Arkansas State.
Freeman will head to Stillwater with two years of eligibility left.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Bryant on X @thatmanbryant.
Flood alerts in effect for over 21 million people in Texas, Oklahoma
ABC News’ Somara Theodore reports on the catastrophic weather conditions in Texas and Oklahoma, where close to 2 feet of rain has fallen in some areas over the last five days.
