The Dallas Mavericks downed the Los Angeles Clippers in 6 games to advance to the semifinals in this year's NBA playoffs and now they set out on the road to take on young and surging Oklahoma City Thunder in Tuesday's game one matchup. We take a look at this matchup to make a Mavericks-Thunder prediction and pick.

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

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Dallas (54-34) was able to get past the Los Angeles Clippers who were a tough task in six games of their series. The Mavericks dropped game one just to go 4-1 in the remaining five games. However, in their last two games to close out the series the Mavericks were just unstoppable beating the Clippers by a combined 43 points covering both spreads with relative ease. Their dominant performances were in large part due to the duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving who combined for 107 points in both games. Both Doncic and Irving will need to lead the charge in hopes of snatching game one on the road against Oklahoma City in this Tuesday night matchup.

Oklahoma City (61-25) is coming off a clean sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans where they covered the spread in each of the last three games to close out the series. The Thunder were in full control of the series after their close encounter in game one. During the series, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was damn near unstoppable as he averaged 27.3 ppg to go along with 6.0 rebs, 5.0 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 47.6% from the floor. The Thunder also played well collectively as a unit with their starters who all averaged in the double-digits for the series and of course, Jalen Williams who balled out alongside Gilgeous-Alexander with 21.3 ppg for the series. The Oklahoma City Thunder hope this momentum spills over into game one of their semifinal matchup when they play host to the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.

DALLAS MAVERICKS VS. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER FANDUEL ODDS FOR MAY 7

MONEY LINE

• DALLAS MAVERICKS: +138
• OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: -164

SPREAD

• DALLAS MAVERICKS: +3.5 (-110)
• BOSTON CELTICS: -3.5 (-110)

OVER/UNDER (TOTAL)

• OVER 217 (-112)
• UNDER 217? (-108)

BEST ODDS FOR DALLAS MAVERICKS VS. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

• The Oklahoma City Thunder are -3.5-point favorites against the Dallas Mavericks. BetRivers currently has the best odds at -3 (-122)
• The Dallas Mavericks are the underdogs by 3.5 points to cover the spread. BetRivers currently has the best odds at +4 (-117)
• 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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DALLAS MAVERICKS VS. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER INJURY REPORT

DALLAS MAVERICKS INJURY REPORT

• MAXI KLEBER - OUT - SHOULDER
• TIM HARDAWAY JR. - QUES TUES - ANKLE
• OLIVIER MAXENCE PROSPER - QUES TUES - ANKLE
• GREG BROWN III - OUT - PERSONAL

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER INJURY REPORT INJURY REPORT

• NONE

WHY DALLAS MAVERICKS WILL COVER THE SPREAD

The Dallas Mavericks are coming off a 6-game series victory over the Los Angeles Clippers where they dominated the Clippers in their last two games to close out the series. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been playing out of their minds and looking like a legitimate threat to any team that comes within their path including the Oklahoma City Thunder who they go to battle against in this semifinal matchup.

While the duo of Doncic and Irving have been a major cause of their success in the playoffs, it's also been the Maverick's stout defense that has put them over the top in their series victory with the Clippers. In their two games to close out the series, they held the Clippers to under 42% from the floor and just 26% from 3-point range. Also, they held Paul George, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook under 20 points in each outing.

If the Mavericks can replicate that same success on defense while getting the scoring onslaught from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving they can cover this spread and potentially steal game one on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

WHY OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER WILL COVER THE SPREAD

Oklahoma City is coming off a dominant series victory against the New Orleans Pelicans who could not compete against the Thunder. The Thunder had some time off to gameplan for their matchup with the Dallas Mavericks and look to take it to them early in this series when they play host in game one of this semifinal matchup.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the MVP candidate has been dominant in the playoffs thus far averaging 27.3 ppg wreaking havoc on the court. However, he's not the only one who has been delivering for the Thunder as everyone in that starting lineup has been doing their part during the playoffs but it has been Jalen Williams who's been Robin to Gilgeous-Alexander's Batman. Williams has been playing some of his best basketball alongside Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 21.3 ppg along with 7.3 rebs, and 5.0 assists while shooting 52.9% from the floor and 38.9% from 3-point range.

It's up to Thunder to limit the damage from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irivin and dominate the Mavericks in the paint, their kryptonite. If the Thunder can play sound basketball on both ends of the court they can come away victories in game one of the series putting pressure on the Mavericks.

FINAL MAVERICKS-THUNDER PICK & PREDICTION

The Dallas Mavericks have some uphill sledding ahead of them going against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. While the Mavericks have one of the best duos in the Western Conference, the Thunder are playing exceptionally high, especially at home where they are 35-8 and 28-15 ATS.

While many would want to take the points with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving it will be the stifling defense of the Thunder that will keep them in check and then Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams take it to the Maverick's defense to where they cover the spread at home and come away with the game one victory.

FINAL MAVERICKS-THUNDER PICK & PREDICTION: OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER -3.5 (-110)