Sunday’s NBA primetime game on NBC pits the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Dallas Mavericks. It’s been a fairytale two seasons for these two Western Conference foes. Oklahoma City comes with the best record in basketball (46-15), while Dallas (21-38) is headed directly to the NBA Draft lottery.
Let’s get into my Thunder vs. Mavericks.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks odds
Money line: Thunder -1100 / Mavericks +700
Spread: Thunder -16.5 (-105) / Mavericks +16.5 (-115)
Total: Over 233.5 (-110) / Under 233.5 (-110)
Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder best bet #1: Mavericks +16.5 (-115)
While there isn’t much good to say about Dallas, at least this team is showing a decent effort – unlike a few other NBA franchises that are desperate for top picks in a stacked draft. Only twice in their last 20 games have the Mavericks lost by more than this 16.5 point spread. They actually won two of their last four contests, and in February they were competitive against San Antonio (twice), Minnesota, and Boston.
OKC is without Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (abdomen and ankle). Williams contributes 17.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg, and 5.4 apg; Mitchell averages 14.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, and 3.7 apg. Even on a team as good as the Thunder, it’s hard for anyone on the team to win by at least 17 points without this kind of production.
The Mavs are 5-3 in the last eight head-to-head contests and 4-2 against the spread in the last six.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder betting best player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 30.5 points (-108)
Gilgeous-Alexander has held under 31 points in four of the last six contests. Over the past two games, SGA is 20-for-51 from the field and 1-for-6 from downtown. He has gone seven consecutive times without making a three-pointer.
SGA is averaging 28.0 ppg in two meetings with the Mavericks in 2025-26, and may not get enough minutes to exceed that mark in a game expected to be lopsided.
