Preview: Mavs start long homestand tonight against Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (2-3) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (2-2)

When: 8 p.m., Saturday

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV: BSSW

Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

What it’s essential know: The Mavs are coming off Thursday’s spectacular 129-125 additional time victory on the highway against the Brooklyn Nets – one of many Eastern Conference groups favored to achieve the NBA Finals this season. . .Tonight’s recreation is the opener of a five-game homestand and begins a interval the place the Mavs can do some appreciable harm contemplating they’ll play 10 of their ensuing 12 video games at dwelling. This is also the primary recreation of the primary back-to-back of the season for the Mavs, who will host the Orlando Magic on Sunday. . .Superstar level guard Luka Doncic completely destroyed the Nets as he completed with season highs in factors (41), rebounds (11) and assists (14). It was the third 40-point triple-double of Doncic’s profession, tying him for sixth place on the NBA’s all-time listing on this class. He is also the primary Mavs participant to open a season with 4 video games scoring 30 or extra factors. In addition, Doncic joined Russell Westbrook (2016) as the one gamers to start a season recording at the least 30 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in every of the season’s first 4 video games. In paying homage to his standing as the highest candidate to win this season’s Most Valuable Player award, Doncic is averaging a league-high 36.3 factors together with 9.5 rebounds and 9.3 assists. Additionally, Doncic now has 47 profession triple-doubles. . .Despite scoring simply 11 factors against the Nets in a recreation the place he was affected by foul difficulties, Christian Wood remains to be averaging 21 factors and eight rebounds, and taking pictures a scorching 61.9 % from the sphere and a red-hot 66.7 % from three-point land. . .Spencer Dinwiddie is averaging 16.3 ppg and taking pictures 51.1 % from the sphere and a scorching 56.5 % from past the three-point arc. . .Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a season-high 18 factors against the Nets and is averaging 14.3 ppg. . .The Mavs have been 3-1 against OKC final season. . .The Thunder are within the midst of having fun with an especially spectacular week. And it’s all on the expense of the Los Angeles Clippers. After opening the season with highway losses at Minnesota (115-108) and Denver (122-117) — coupled with a house loss to Minnesota (116-106) – the Thunder bounced again and promptly bounced the highly-regarded Clippers twice in a three-day span. OKC upended the Clippers this previous Tuesday (108-94) and once more on Thursday (118-110). . .Point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paved the way in which in Tuesday’s win with 33 factors and eight assists, and adopted that up with 24 factors and 6 assists throughout Thursday’s victory. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 29.3 ppg and 6.5 apg, Tre Mann averages 14.8 ppg, Josh Giddey is averaging 14.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 5 apg, and Luguentz Dort is scoring at a 13.6 ppg clip. . .OKC is nineteen^th within the league in scoring (111.4 ppg) and 14^th in fewest factors allowed (111.4 ppg).

Twitter: @DwainPrice