The Dallas Mavericks are hitting national TV tonight for the first time this season, riding high after a thrilling four-point victory against the Miami Heat just Monday night. Dallas rolls into this primetime matchup with a 2-2 record, but you can feel the energy building around this squad, especially after Cooper Flagg absolutely WENT OFF.
Flagg and Clayton Jr. Just Lit Up Miami
Seriously, if you missed Monday’s game against the Heat, you missed a show. Cooper Flagg dropped a ridiculous 29 points, snagged six boards, dished out 11 assists, and racked up eight stocks. That’s a stat line that screams “future problem for the league,” and he led the Mavericks to that critical four-point win. But he wasn’t alone. Two-way guard Walter Clayton Jr. came off the bench and punched in 15 points, grabbed four rebounds, and added four assists in a mere 17 minutes. That kind of instant offense from the bench is exactly what you need to close out tight games. The team’s got momentum, and they’re looking to make a statement tonight.
Thunder Riding High, But Battered
On the other side, we’ve got the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are somehow still undefeated at 4-0. They just took down the Phoenix Suns 125-114 on Monday, but don’t let that perfect record fool you. They’re held together by sheer will and the brilliance of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell. They’re playing without Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, and Jalen Williams, which is a massive chunk of their roster. Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell combined for a whopping 56 points against the Suns, and the team had to play nine guys at least 20 minutes just to get it done. It’s obvious this Thunder team is relying on a full-team, group effort to support their two main guards right now. Dallas might be seeing them at exactly the right time.
Tonight’s Showdown and the Sharp Plays
This game tips off just after 8:40 p.m. from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, and you can catch it on ESPN. The betting lines have the Thunder as 6.5-point favorites, with the over/under at 228.5 points. But don’t let that spread fool you, folks. Our guy David is all in on the Mavericks, picking them for the Moneyline at +188, which would be a huge upset. He’s also eyeing Cooper Flagg for 25+ points, because “the Thunder have absolutely nobody that can guard Cooper Flagg or defend the rim at the level you need to to prevent him from getting to his spots.” He also likes Ajay Mitchell to score 20+ points, despite the Mavs win, predicting Mitchell will cause problems for Dallas’ perimeter defenders. David thinks Dallas rides a good first quarter to a huge win, grabbing Mavs first quarter spread +1.5.
Tyler, meanwhile, is feeling the Under 228.5 points, noting that Dallas has been held to 110 points or less twice already this season, and OKC has been under 110 twice as well. He also likes Dallas +6.5, Cooper Flagg 8+ rebounds, and Isaiah Hartenstein under 9.5 rebounds. The stage is set for a wild one, with Dallas looking to prove their Monday night thriller was no fluke, and the Thunder trying to keep that undefeated streak alive on sheer guts. This is gonna be appointment viewing, don’t miss it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
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