The Thunder host the Mavericks in the NBA playoffs on Thursday in Game 2! This has the makings of a great series still, despite the blowout win by the Thunder in Game 1. We now continue our NBA odds series with a Mavericks-Thunder prediction and pick.

The Mavericks have made it work with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, despite all the doubts people have had about the dynamic between the two. They have been great as a dynamic duo during this postseason. They need to continue to find more scoring outside of those two. This is huge after Game 1 because the Thunder's depth seemed to be the difference, and now the Mavericks need to respond. Still, the Mavericks have more experience and that could be the difference in this series overall, but the Thunder are going to put up a fight.

The Thunder swept the Pelicans in the first round and followed it up with a blowout against the Mavericks in Game 1. They are very young, but they are playing a very fun brand of basketball. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren are great and make up a core three for the Thunder that can carry them when needed despite their youth. The Thunder are thin down low and the Mavericks can bother them with Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. Their perimeter play has been what has gotten them to this point and they will need it once again to win against the more experienced team in the Mavericks and that will be one of the many big factors that will decide this game.

Here are the NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

NBA Playoffs Odds: Mavericks-Thunder Game 2 Odds

Dallas Mavericks: +5 (-110)

Moneyline: +168

Oklahoma City Thunder: -5 (-110)

Moneyline: -200

Over: 218.5 (-112)

Under: 218.5 (-108)

How to Watch Mavericks vs. Thunder Game 2 

Time: 9:30 pm ET

TV: ESPN

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Mavericks Could Cover The Spread/Win

The Mavericks have been consistently one of the best offensive teams in the NBA this season. They were 7th in scoring offense at 117.9 points per game. They were also 11th in total field goal percentage and 13th in three-point percentage at 48.1% and 36.9% respectively. In the postseason, the Mavericks are averaging 105.3 points per game, 45.4% from the field, and 33.6% from behind the arc. Three Mavericks are averaging over double digits in scoring with Luka Doncic leading the way at 28.3 points per game, but Kyrie Irving is right behind him at 25.6 points. Doncic also leads the way in rebounding at 8.4 per game and then in assists at 9.4 per game. Doncic has done everything he can to will the Mavericks to win so far in the postseason and he will need to do even more for the Mavericks to get past a team as good as the Thunder.

The defense for the Mavericks has struggled at times this season. They were 20th in the league in scoring defense, allowing 115.6 points per game. They were also 20th in field goal percentage at 47.5% and 18th in three-point percentage at 36.8%. In the postseason they are playing much better and allowing 102.7 points per game, 43.6% from the field, but they are allowing 38.7% from behind the arc. Three Mavericks average over one steal per game with Kyrie Irving leading the way at 1.9 per game. Derrick Jones Jr then leads the way in blocks at 1.6 per game and is one of three players that average over one block per game. The defense for the Mavericks is a massive key in this series against the Thunder and their offense.

Why The Thunder Could Cover The Spread/Win

The Thunder emerged this year in large part because of their offense despite their youth. They were third in scoring offense, averaging 120.1 points per game. The Thunder were also third in total field goal percentage at 49.9% from the field and they are the best three-point shooting team in the NBA at 38.9% from behind the arc. In the postseason the offense has taken a dip a bit, but is still elite. They are averaging 107.6 points per game, 47.5% from the field, and are the best three-point shooting team in the playoffs at 40.1% from behind the arc. Five different Thunder players average over double digits with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way at 27.6 points per game. Gilgeous-Alexander also leads the way in assists at 5.8 per game.

The defense for the Thunder has been in the upper half of the NBA this season. They were 11th in scoring defense, allowing 112.7 points per game. They were also third in total field goal percentage defense in the NBA at 45.5%, and then sixth in three-point shooting at 36.1% from behind the arc. In the postseason they have been great on defense, and they are allowing 90.6 points per game, 39.6% from the field, and 28.3% from behind the arc. They are first across the board in those stats. Four different players average at least one steal per game with Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams tied for the lead in steals at 1.4 per game. Chet Holmgren has also been a huge difference maker, leading the way in blocks at 2.8 per game and rebounds at 8.4 per game. They dominated their first-round matchup against the Pelicans and looked great in Game 1 against the Mavericks on defense.

Final Mavericks-Thunder Prediction & Pick

The Mavericks are going to adjust after getting blown out in Game 1 and make this a series. This is going to be a closer game and the Mavericks should cover thanks to their two superstars. I also think they win outright to tie up the series before heading back to Dallas.

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Final Mavericks-Thunder Prediction & Pick: Mavericks +5 (-110)