The Dallas Mavericks are just a win away from clinching a berth in the Western Conference finals, and they can accomplish that this Sunday at home versus the desperate Oklahoma City Thunder. Will the Mavs catch lightning in a bottle in Game 6? Or, will the Thunder tame the Mavericks to force a Game 7?

Catch this game live on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 8:00 AM, Manila time

Away: Oklahoma City Thunder (2-3)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
  • Josh Giddey
  • Luguentz Dort
  • Jalen Williams
  • Chet Holmgren

The Thunder are about to find out where they’re really made of. With no more room for error, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company will head to Sunday’s contest with all the pressure in the world to deliver a win. Otherwise, it’s vacation time for the Thunder, who need to recapture their 3-point shooting. 

During the regular season, Oklahoma City made nearly 39 percent of its attempts from downtown. But over the Bolts’ last four games in the Dallas series, they have only drained 29.1 percent from the field. That being said, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault doesn’t want his team to stop launching those long-distance bombs. They can’t be that bad for a long period, and Daigneault is hoping that Game 6 is where their 3-point malaise gets cured. 

The Thunder have covered the spread in six of their last eight visits to Dallas.

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Home: Dallas Mavericks (3-2)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Luka Doncic (Probable)
  • Kyrie Irving
  • Derrick Jones Jr.
  • P.J. Washington
  • Daniel Gafford

It’s the perfect time for the Mavs to go for the kill. Game 6 could be Dallas’ last home game of the season, but at the very least, the Mavericks don’t have the pressure that Oklahoma City has going into the contest. Either way, the Mavericks know that Game 6 is close to a must-win for them, especially with Luka Doncic’s body barely holding up in the series.

Despite his banged-up body, Doncic stuffed the stat sheets in Dallas’ 104-92 road win in Game 6 with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Doncic is listed as probable for Sunday, but he’s likely to suit up given the importance of the game. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving has the Mavs hoping that he will break out of his slump in Game 6 after averaging just 10.5 points on 40.5 FG% in the last two games. 

The Mavericks are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 home games.

Picks

Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder (+3.5)

Over/Under: Over (208.0)

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