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Mavericks Ride into Oklahoma City to Duel with Thunder at Paycom Center

As the Dallas Mavericks prepare to face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center, fans are eager to see if their team can maintain its recent momentum. The Mavericks have shown a mixed bag of results in their last few outings, but there's a silver lining that suggests they could be finding their rhythm.


DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 10: Josh Giddey #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 10, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

In their most recent game against the Philadelphia 76ers, despite falling short by four points with a final score of 116-120, the Mavericks demonstrated resilience and an ability to close gaps quickly. They managed to put up an impressive 40 points in the fourth quarter alone, showcasing their potential for explosive offense when it matters most. However, turnovers were a concern as they gave up possession 17 times.


The game before that saw them on the receiving end of a tough loss against Boston Celtics with a scoreline of 110-138. The defensive side was particularly worrisome as they allowed too many points in paint and fast-break situations.


DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 10: Lindy Waters III #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 10, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

However, looking back at their performance against Toronto Raptors provides some optimism. With a high-scoring victory of 136-125, Dallas showed what they're capable of when firing on all cylinders – efficient shooting from both inside and outside the arc and solid ball distribution leading to an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio.


One key trend for Dallas has been its ability to rack up bench points and second-chance opportunities – something that could prove crucial in tight contests. Their effective field goal percentage has been consistently above average across these games which indicates good shot selection overall.


DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 10: Jalen Williams #8 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 10, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

As we approach this matchup on March 14th at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, fans should watch for how well Dallas can control turnovers while exploiting fast-break opportunities themselves. Maintaining defensive intensity will also be vital if they hope to contain Oklahoma City's attack.


Fans can catch this exciting duel live on TNT at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central).

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