The OKC Thunder are set to take on the Dallas Mavericks for the second time this preseason, this time in Dallas. Here are the keys to the game.
The OKC Thunder are unbeaten in the preseason (2-0) including a win over the Dallas Mavericks in Tulsa to kick off the 2019-20 preseason. The Dallas Mavericks enter this contest with a 0-3 record, including a pair of losses that did feature the team’s new dynamic duo. But it is preseason, the records do not matter.
The Dallas Mavericks have not played since Friday Night against Milwaukee for their first game at home this preseason. Therefore, Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic should be well-rested to take on the OKC Thunder, unlike last Tuesday when the pair skipped the first preseason meeting.
However, the Mavericks will be without projected starter Jalen Brunson, wing Dorian Finney-Smith and big man Dwight Powell for Monday Night’s clash in Big D. The official status of KP and Luka is not yet known.
For the OKC Thunder, they will be shorthanded as well for this preseason affair. Andre Roberson will remain on the sidelines, as he has not yet played in a game despite saying at media day he is a “full go.” Chris Paul and Steven Adams will also sit out for rest.
Given these absences of star players and uncertainty about others, you might be wondering if it’s worthwhile to watch as the OKC Thunder face the Dallas Mavericks for the second time this preseason?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander running the show
So far this preseason, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has split time handling the basketball, much like his rookie year, with lineups featuring all three point guards so far in Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder, and SGA.
Pretty much every basketball fan and media member expects the Thunder to ship off CP3 sooner rather than later, giving the keys of the franchise to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and tonight’s contest will give us a glimpse of what that will look like whenever a trade does go down.
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has never really gotten his chance to run an offense as the true lead ball handler. With the Clippers, at times he was thrust into the role of a small forward in smaller lineups.
Justin Patton
Billy Donovan sat Nerlens Noel out of Thursday’s contest against the New Zealand Breakers to get a closer look at Justin Patton. Now, the team will get to see Patton in another extended role but this time against NBA level competition. There has to be a reason Donovan is so enamored with Patton, and Monday Night we could watch Patton earn his spot in the rotation.
What does the starting lineup look like?
With CP3 and Steven Adams out who does Billy Donovan roll with? We can assume that Nerlens Noel and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will slide into the starting center and point guard roles respectively but who earns the nod at small forward? Will we see Darius Bazley start or Terrance Ferguson? Notably, TFerg started in every game he played in last season.
Could we even see both the youngsters in the starting lineup? If Donovan ditches Dennis Schroder and rolls out a lineup of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Terrance Ferguson, Darius Bazley, Danilo Gallinari, and Nerlens Noel, I think that could excite a lot of Thunder fans.
Usually starting lineups do not matter in the preseason, but it is important to note that Donovan has stayed true to his preseason rotations, at least in the early part of the season, throughout his time with OKC unless of course health or rest factored into it.
The game tips off at 7:30 CT (8:30 EST) and can be viewed on Fox Sports Oklahoma & Fox Sports South West. What will you be watching for in Tonight’s preseason matchup?
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