The Oklahoma City Thunder were able to tie the series up in Game 4 after a great comeback victory reality then set in when they dropped Game 5 and now are on the verge of elimination when they head to Dallas to take on the surging Mavericks in Game 6 of this semifinal matchup on Saturday. We take a look at this matchup to make a Thunder-Mavericks prediction and pick.

(Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

Oklahoma City (57-25) is in a must-win situation as they now trail the Dallas Mavericks 3-2 after losing their Game 5 matchup 92-104. It was by far the worst outing of the Thunder's playoff run where they shot just 43% from the floor and 25% from 3-point range.

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 just scoring 12 points on the night.

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 their most recent defeat and that's not going to cut it if they want to avoid getting eliminated in Game 6 on the road. They are going to need to get back to how they played in Game 1 and Game 5 or this series is cooked when they go to battle in Game 6 at the American Airlines Arena

Dallas Mavericks (50-32) 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. They however gave up a game back in Game 4 where Gilgeous-Alexander took over down the stretch as they came back to down the Mavericks to even the series.

Then it was the Mavericks who now put the pressure on the Thunder yet again as they put them on the brink of elimination coming into Game 6.

While Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been putting on a show during this series, they have held this Oklahoma City Thunder team in check giving them this 3-2 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 close the door on this series and head to the Western Conference Finals in this Saturday playoff matchup.

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OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS FANDUEL ODDS FOR MAY 18th

MONEY LINE

• OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: +144
• DALLAS MAVERICKS: -172

SPREAD

• OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: +4 (-112)
• DALLAS MAVERICKS: -4 (-108)

OVER/UNDER (TOTAL)

• OVER 210 (-110)
• UNDER 210 (-110)

BEST ODDS FOR OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS

• The Dallas Mavericks are -4-point favorites against the Oklahoma City Thunder. FanDuel currently has the best odds at -4 (-108)
• The Oklahoma City Thunder are the underdogs by 4 points to cover the spread. BetRivers currently has the best odds at +4.5 (-115)
• FanDuel currently has the best odds for the total, which is set at 210 (-110) for the over, and (-110) 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

• 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 three out of their next four games putting them in a must-win situation coming into Game 6 on the road.

Their offense was humming in Game 1 but has sputtered mightily in Games 2, 3 and had their worst shooting outing in Game 5. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been playing at an exceptionally high level all playoffs 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 however, he will need to get back to that form after scoring just 12 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 and the rest of this Thunder squad 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 6 they can overcome this road matchup and tie this series up 3 games a piece and get back home for a do-or-die Game 7.

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 to respond in a big way after their losses just like they did after dropping games 1 and 4 against the Thunder dominating them in their most recent victory holding them to their lowest point total during their playoff run in Game 5.

Now, they are leading the series 3-2 and are looking to put the nail in the coffin as they head back home to take the series and head to the Conference Finals.

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.

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 if they can keep the pressure on the Thunder they can take Game 6 and send the Oklahoma City Thunder packing their bags for vacation for the offseason.

FINAL THUNDER-MAVERICKS PICK & PREDICTION

The Oklahoma City have some uphill sledding ahead of them going against the Dallas Mavericks after going down 3-2 in this series. While the Thunder have an exciting young squad 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 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 take the series punching their ticket to the Western Conference Finals.

FINAL THUNDER-MAVERICKS PICK & PREDICTION: DALLAS MAVERICKS -4 (-108)

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