Mavericks vs Thunder: Injury-Riddled Matchup Sets Stage for Competitive NBA Clash

The Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder are set to face off on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 PM ET. This matchup comes with significant injury concerns for both teams, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the game.

The Mavericks, who recently snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over the San Antonio Spurs, will be without their star guard Luka Doncic due to a knee contusion. Additionally, Dante Exum is out with a wrist injury, and Jazian Gortman is in the G League[4][5].

On the other hand, the Oklahoma City Thunder are dealing with their own set of injuries, particularly in the front court. Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams, and Isaiah Hartenstein are all out, along with Alex Caruso and Nikola Topic. This depletion in the Thunder’s front court could provide an opportunity for the Mavericks’ deep rotation of centers, including Maxi Kleber, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford[3][4].

Despite these injuries, the Thunder have been performing well, going 3-0 since losing Chet Holmgren. They are favored by 7.5 points in this matchup, with the over/under set at 228.5 points. The Thunder’s strong defensive performance, ranking first in the league with 102.2 points allowed per game, will be tested against the Mavericks’ tall and talented frontcourt[5].

Betting trends indicate that the Thunder have a high cover rate, going 9-4 against the spread this season, while the Mavericks have struggled, going 5-7-1 against the spread. However, the Mavericks have gone 3-0 to the Over as road underdogs, which could be a factor in this game[3][5].

The game will be broadcast on KFAA and FDSOK, and can also be streamed via Fubo and NBA League Pass[5].