The NBA Cup has been a great success for the NBA, and these kinds of high-profile regular season matchups suddenly have a lot more merit than a single game on the standings. The Dallas Mavericks have got Luka Doncic back from injury, and are surging up the Western Conference standings. They have won nine of their last ten games, including six straight victories. However, the NBA odds have them as slight underdogs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the most promising young superstars, and the budding Canadian will make a big impact in this NBA game. We have called in our NBA expert for his NBA expert picks and predictions for this can’t miss NBA Cup affair.
Matchup: Mavericks vs Thunder Overview
- Teams: Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder
- Date: Tuesday, December 10th, 2024
- Time: Tip-off is at 9:30 PM EST or 8:30 PM local time
- Venue: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Win Probabilities:
The one-off NBA Cup format ensures both teams leave nothing on the court on Tuesday night. The Dallas Mavericks have won six straight games but are still underdogs according to the NBA win probabilities. The home-court advantage certainly plays a part, and Dallas has just a 39.02% chance to win this NBA game. Alternatively, the Oklahoma City Thunder are bursting with young talent and are getting healthy just in time for a deep run in the NBA Cup. The Oklahoma City Thunder have a 60.98% chance to book their spot in the semifinals with a victory over the Mavericks.
Projected Final Score:
The recent NBA games have provided valuable insights for your NBA predictions. We can generate a projected final score based on the current form of these two teams combined with expert NBA picks. The projected final score for this winner-take-all NBA Cup matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder is Oklahoma City Thunder 118-111 Dallas Mavericks.
Mavericks vs Thunder Odds
| Dallas Mavericks | Oklahoma City Thunder | |
| Moneyline | +155 | -210 |
| Spread | +4.5 | -4.5 |
The NBA odds for this crucial NBA Cup quarterfinal have the Oklahoma City Thunder as the favorites to pick up the victory. Oklahoma City sits on top of the Western Conference with a 17-5 record on the season, but the Mavericks are not too far behind at 15-8. Based on recent insights for this NBA game, it is understandable that Oklahoma City should be favored at home. Dallas has Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, but the depth of the Thunder will be difficult to overcome. There are several potent scorers on both teams, and the over/under odds for this NBA game are sitting at 227.5 points.
| Over 227.5 Points | Under 227.5 Points |
| -115 | -115 |
Expert Prediction: Who Wins?
Why the Dallas Mavericks Could Win
The Dallas Mavericks have the best player on the court, and that is often enough to propel them to victory. Luka Doncic has rebounded from his early-season injury, leading the Mavericks to three straight victories since his return. Not only is Doncic the best scorer on the Mavericks, but he is also their leading distributor, as he draws frequent double teams on the offensive end.
The Mavericks will lean on their postseason experience to pick up the victory. Dallas made a shock run to the NBA Finals last season, and while they fell short of a championship, they picked up crucial big game experience. Doncic and Kyrie Irving are two of the best shot creators in the entire league, and the offense they can generate with each other is truly incredible.
Dallas has the tools needed to win, but it all comes down to execution. The Mavericks can get sloppy on the offensive end and have turned the ball over 54 times in their last three games. They managed to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder last month despite a 16-6 deficit in the turnovers, but cannot expect another victory if they replicate those numbers.
Why the Oklahoma City Thunder Could Win
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been excellent at home this season, going 9-2 overall. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 25+ points in ten straight games and is averaging 29.8 PPG this season. His ability to generate his own offense is reminiscent of Kobe Bryant, and he is surrounded by other talented scorers.
The Thunder have an electric offense, but their defense could help them win this game. They have held their opponents to 110 or fewer points in nine of their last ten games. The Mavericks scored 121 points against the Thunder a few weeks ago, as they crashed the glass with 18 offensive rebounds. Oklahoma City will need to limit the second-chance points and continue to generate turnovers on the defensive end.
How to Make Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder Picks
To make your free NBA Cup picks for the Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder matchup, you will need to visit Sportzino. Sportzino offers comprehensive NBA odds for every game this season, including spreads, totals, moneylines, and player props. The NBA Cup will bring plenty of opportunities to make NBA predictions, and you want to make sure you are not caught on the sidelines for this massive NBA matchup.
