Seeding games power ranking: OKC Thunder defense bolsters their position

AUGUST 09: Terrance Ferguson #23, Darius Bazley #7, Chris Paul #3, Devon Hall #14, and Luguentz Dort #5 of the OKC Thunder celebrate after defeating the Washington Wizards (Photo by Kim Klement - Pool/Getty Images)
AUGUST 09: Terrance Ferguson #23, Darius Bazley #7, Chris Paul #3, Devon Hall #14, and Luguentz Dort #5 of the OKC Thunder celebrate after defeating the Washington Wizards (Photo by Kim Klement - Pool/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder
OKC Thunder: Luka Doncic #77, and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the Dallas Mavericks (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Dallas Mavericks:

Although the Mavericks only won three times in eight their seeding games experience was considered a success.

Both Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis made the All-NBA seeding games teams. More importantly, the Mavs found a way to win in clutch time. Despite losing five games they were in more than they weren’t. Three games were lost by four points or less.

The Mavericks had the 14th ranked strength of schedule with a cumulative opponent win total of 287. Dallas had hoped to move up the ladder to avoid the Clippers in round one but with three additional losses compared to the trio of teams above them they had very little wiggle room.

Seeding Game Results:

Rockets 153 – Mavs 149
Suns 117 – Mavs 115
Mavericks 114 – Kings 110
Clippers 126 – Mavericks 111
Mavericks 136 – Bucks 132 OT
Mavericks 122 – Jazz 114
Blazers 134 – Mavericks 131
Suns 128 – Mavs 102