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The Oklahoma City Thunder (4-0) are the established Western Conference power with 132 combined regular-season wins to their credit over the last two seasons, functional depth all over their roster and a championship banner hung up in the Paycom Center to show for it. The Dallas Mavericks (2-2) and their fans are just happy to be taking the first few baby steps in a positive direction after two seasons in decline.
But Wednesday’s meeting between the erstwhile rivals at American Airlines Center takes on new layers of intrigue after news of two long-term injuries to key pieces in the Oklahoma City rotation and the Mavericks’ newfound penchant for punching above their weight to start the 2026-27 campaign. Tipoff between the Mavs and the Thunder is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
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The Thunder own a decided advantage over the home team in both recent results and proven talent throughout the roster, even after the injury prognoses recently announced for both Cason Wallace (torn labrum) and Jalen Williams (broken ankle). OKC beat the Mavericks in all three of the teams’ meetings a year ago, after Dallas played the role of thorn in big brother’s side in 2024-25. The Mavs won three of four against the Thunder that year, but it didn’t stop Oklahoma City from marching to a title, while the Mavs labored in the morass of the Great NBA Middle.
Here are three points of interest in preparation for what could be a closer game than you think to start the I-35 series this season.
No apologies for injury luck
The Mavericks are absolutely catching the Thunder at the right time on Wednesday. Not only are Wallace and Williams on the shelf indefinitely, potentially the entire season in both cases, but big thin man Chet Holmgren and versatile guard Alex Caruso are also listed as out on the Thunder’s latest injury report. Holmgren is day-to-day with patellar tendonitis, and Caruso is dealing with a right ankle sprain. Hey, at least it’s not broken.
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Their absence means Oklahoma City will have to lean more on Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams and rookie Aday Mara, who was a college teammate of Mavs rookie…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/3-thoughts-upstart-mavericks-host-024944457.html
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Publish date : 2026-10-28 02:49:00
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