The Oklahoma City Thunder got off to a roaring start to this semifinal matchup against the Dallas Mavericks only to drop their next two games now putting them in a must-win situation on the road in game four when they look to even the series at American Airlines Arena. We take a look at this matchup to make a Thunder-Mavericks prediction and pick.

(Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)

Oklahoma City (62-27) is in a must-win scenario after going down 2-1 in their semifinal matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. After a blowout victory over the Mavericks in game one, they went on to drop their next two games. In their most recent defeat, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put his team on his back as he normally does but the rest of this young Thunder team didn't give him much help. Jalen Williams who's been dominant during this playoff run has been held in check in each of their last two games only scoring a combined 36 points.

However, it's not only Williams that has been struggling it has been the entire team. No player on the team has more than 13 points in aside from Williams in the last two games and that's not going to cut it if they want to get back in this series. They are going to need to get back to how they played in game one or this series might be cooked when they go to battle in game four at the American Airlines Arena

Dallas (56-35) had a rough start to this series losing badly in the opening game by 22 points. The Mavericks do what they do best and that is come back with a vengeance in games 2 and 3 on the back of their stifling defense. While Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving put on a show in their last two victories scoring 102 combined points, they have held this Oklahoma City Thunder team in check giving them the 2-1 series lead.

Certainly, Doncic and Irving will need to continue their dominance on the court like they have been all playoffs long but this Mavericks team will need to stifle this Thunder offense if they want to get out to a commanding lead 3-1 in this Game 4 matchup at the American Airlines Arena.

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OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER?VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS FANDUEL ODDS FOR MAY 13th

MONEY LINE

• OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: +100
• DALLAS MAVERICKS: -118

SPREAD

• OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: +1 (-108)
• DALLAS MAVERICKS: -1(-112)

OVER/UNDER (TOTAL)

• OVER 213.5 (-110)
• UNDER 213.5 (-110)

BEST ODDS FOR OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS

• The Dallas Mavericks are -1-point favorites against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Hard Rock Bet and Bet365 currently has the best odds at -1 (-110)
• The Oklahoma City Thunder are the underdogs by 1 point to cover the spread. DraftKings currently has the best odds at +1.5 (-112)
• FanDuel currently has the best odds for the total, which is set at 217 (-112) for the over, and (-108) for the under

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OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER?VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS INJURY REPORT

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER INJURY REPORT INJURY REPORT

• NONE

DALLAS MAVERICKS INJURY REPORT

• LUKA DONCIC - QUES MON - KNEE
• OLIVIER MAXENCE PROSPER - OUT - ANKLE
• MAXI KLEBER - OUT - SHOULDER
• GREG BROWN III - OUT - PERSONAL

WHY OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER WILL COVER THE SPREAD

Oklahoma City kickstarted this series with a dominant victory over the Dallas Mavericks only to drop the next two games putting them in a must-win situation coming into Game 4 on the road. Their offense was humming in Game 1 but has sputtered mightily in Games 2 and 3. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been playing at an exceptionally high level all playoff long it's been the supporting cast that hasn't been giving him much help in this series.

Gilgeous-Alexander's sidekick Jalen Williams has been averaging 19.9 PPG during the playoffs and he will need to get back to that form after scoring just 16 points in their most recent loss to the Mavericks. He isn't the only Thunder player that has been struggling as Chet Holmgren and Luguentz Dort have also been having their fair share of struggles.

However, this is still a team that has a ton of firepower to lift them against the Dallas Mavericks. Gilgeous-Alexander is going to do what he does best and put his team on his back and get this Thunder squad back into the thick of things in this series and the role players of Williams, Holmgren, and Dort need to step it up. This Thunder team has so much talent that if they can just play better than they did in Game 3 they can overcome this road matchup and tie this series up 2 games a piece.

WHY DALLAS MAVERICKS WILL COVER THE SPREAD

The Dallas Mavericks came into this series with a ton of momentum after a six-game series victory over the Los Angeles Clippers only to drop Game 1 against the Thunder in this semifinals matchup. The Dallas Mavericks did what they do best and that is respond in a big way after a loss just like they did against dropping Game 1 against the Clippers but dominating the Thunder to a 22-point victory to take Game 2. Now, they are leading the series 2-1 and are looking to put the nail in the coffin essentially by taking a commanding 3-1 lead in this Game 4 matchup.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been downright sensational together during their playoff run and it has showed in this matchup against the Thunder as well even with Doncic dealing with a nagging knee injury. These two certainly have been the heart and soul of this Mavericks team but the role players on this Mavericks squad like PJ Washington, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Daniel Gafford have been difference makers for this team not only on the offensive side of the ball but also defensively as well.

This Mavericks team has been a defensive marvel down the stretch of the season with their midseason acquisition of Gafford and Washington and if they can keep the pressure on the Thunder they can take Game 4 before they head to Oklahoma City to finish out the series.

FINAL THUNDER-MAVERICKS PICK & PREDICTION

The Oklahoma City have some uphill sledding ahead of them going against the Dallas Mavericks after going down 2-1 in this series. While the Thunder have an exciting young squad but it seems as if they have met their match against this Mavericks team.

While many would want to take the points with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the runner-up for MVP but it will be the stifling defense of the Mavericks that will keep his supporting cast in check yet again and then Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will take it to the Thunder's defense to where they cover the spread at home and come away with the Game 4 victory.

FINAL THUNDER-MAVERICKS PICK & PREDICTION: DALLAS MAVERICKS -1 (-112)

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