The No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks head back into Paycom Center to play against the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. The Thunder are currently 5-0 in the 2024 NBA playoffs, including 3-0 at home. Meanwhile, Dallas has gone 2-2 on the road in the postseason. The Mavericks are looking to avoid going down 0-2, as they did in the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals against the Phoenix Suns.
Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. The Thunder are 5-point favorites in the latest Mavericks vs. Thunder odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 218.5. Before making any Thunder vs. Mavericks picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model entered the conference semifinals in the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 94-61 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,800. Anyone following the model has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Mavericks vs. Thunder and just locked in its 2024 NBA playoff predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Thunder vs. Mavericks:
- Mavericks vs. Thunder spread: Oklahoma City -5
- Mavericks vs. Thunder over/under: 218.5 points
- Mavericks vs. Thunder money line: Oklahoma City -200, Dallas +167
- OKC: The Thunder are 8-1 against the spread in their past nine games
- DAL: The Mavs are 14-6 against the spread in their last 20 games
- Mavericks vs. Thunder picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Thunder can cover
Center Chet Holmgren is a versatile difference-maker on the floor. Holmgren can shoot the basketball, bring the ball up, and is an elite finisher around the rim. Meanwhile, defensively he’s a superb shot blocker due to his length and light feet. Holmgren is logging 16 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks in the 2024 NBA playoffs. In Game 1, he tallied 19 points, seven boards, and three blocks.
Guard Josh Giddey gives the Thunder another facilitator and playmaker. Giddey is at his best attacking downhill to either score or to use his superb court vision. The 21-year-old is averaging 10.4 points, five rebounds, and three assists per contest in the postseason. He’s scored 13-plus points in three of his last four games. See which team to pick here.
Why the Mavericks can cover
Guard Luka Doncic can go off in any contest. Doncic may not be the quickest player on the court but he gets to his spots on the floor consistently. The five-time All-Star is a superb floor general and facilitator. He currently leads the squad in points (28.3), rebounds (8.4), and assists (9.4) in the playoffs. On May 3 versus the Clippers, Doncic racked up 28 points, seven rebounds, and 13 assists.
Guard Kyrie Irving is a fearless playmaker with the ball. Irving has an outstanding offensive arsenal with a reliable perimeter shot. He can score a bunch of points in the blink of an eye. Irving averages 25.6 points, five rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game thus far in the postseason. In the closeout win over Los Angeles, Irving had 30 points, four assists, and two steals. See which team to pick here.
How to make Thunder vs. Mavericks picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 221 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits almost 70% of the time. You can only get the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Mavericks vs. Thunder, and which side of the spread hits almost 70% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $2,800 on its NBA picks this season, and find out.
