Short-handed Oklahoma City are bidding to go 5-0 at the start of a season for the third straight year as they had to the American Airlines Center to take on Dallas.
The Thunder have been rocked by a series of injuries in the space of a few short days, with starters Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace ruled out for a significant time and Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren also missing the trip to Texas.
That they have won their first four games shows Ajay Mitchell has stepped up in support of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, so Dallas won't be reading too much into OKC's medical bulletins.
Dallas are 2-2 having lost their games against Western Conference rivals Houston and San Antonio, while beating Indiana and Miami.
Thunder vs. Mavericks betting picks and predictions
Thunder -6.5 (-106)
The Thunder's backs are to the wall thanks to a major injury blitz, but expect them to hang tough in a fixture which seems to bring out the best in them.
These two sides met three times last season with OKC winning by seven and 13 points in Dallas either side of a 21-point success at home.
In that sweep, the Mavs' aspiring superstar Cooper Flagg played twice, averaging just nine points, two rebounds and one assist, his lowest figures against any opponent during his rookie season.
Flagg has started this season well culminating in posting 29 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and five steals in Monday's 113-109 win over the Heat.
But the Thunder represent one of the league's strongest defenses and Flagg's troubles against them last season are hard to ignore.
And OKC, despite the obvious health issues, are still winning.
Minus Williams, Wallace and Holmgren on Monday night they beat the Phoenix 125-114, with Mitchell scoring a career-high 30 points.
Mitchell was a key go-to man when Williams missed games last season and he's there to do it again. The Thunder are blessed to have that level of replacement and hope he can shake off an ankle tweak to suit up.
There's a 6.5-point spread for this one and everything about the way OKC have started this season, this mission they are seemingly on after their play-offs collapse, says SGA and his team can cover it.
Isaiah Hartenstein over 22.5 points, assists & rebounds (-110)
Isaiah Hartenstein has had a big couple of games while everyone else around him has picked up knocks and he is set for a good night in Dallas.
The veteran center had 12 points and 12 rebounds in Sunday's 108-101 win over the Clippers and he followed that with 15 points and 13 rebounds in Tuesday's 125-114 success over the Suns.
He has played 26 and 27 minutes in those games with Holmgren sidelined and will get plenty of court time again, enough to steam through a 22.5 ceiling for combined points, rebounds and assists.
Jared McCain 3+ threes (-150)
Sharpshooter Jared McCain is one of the big beneficiaries of Williams' awful injury, all but cementing himself as a major player in a new-look starting rotation.
Drafted as a threat from deep, McCain showed he still has the long-range radar in good working order when nailing four from seven attempts from distance against Phoenix.
Having registered 6-from-8 against the Spurs first up, little wonder his 3-point percentage stands at 47.8.
Take McCain to have three or more threes at the expense of Dallas.
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Thunder vs. Mavericks odds
OKC Thunder | -230 |
DAL Mavericks | +185 |
Spread | OKC Thunder -6.5 |
Total Points | O/U 228.5 |
Thunder vs. Mavericks player props
Player points
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC Thunder) | O/U 32.5 |
Ajay Mitchell (OKC Thunder) | O/U 18.5 |
Jared McCain (OKC Thunder) | O/U 17.5 |
Cooper Flagg (DAL Mavericks) | O/U 24.5 |
Kyrie Irving (DAL Mavericks) | O/U 20.5 |
PJ Washington (DAL Mavericks) | O/U 14.5 |
Thunder vs. Mavericks Team news
OKC are 4-0 but short-handed for this game with Williams (broken leg) and Wallace (shoulder) picking up injuries in Sunday's win over the Clippers which will mean prolonged absences.
Guard Caruso sprained an ankle in Monday's win over the Suns and sits out as does Chet Holmgren (knee), while Mitchell is questionable after tweaking an ankle posting 30 points against the Suns.
Dallas guard Kyrie Irving (knee) is listed as questionable, while rookie guard Sergio De Larrea is definitely sidelined by a knee problem.
Impact big man Dereck Lively II is out as he recovers from foot surgery.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
