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Thunder @ Dallas Mavericks preview (Game 4 of 82)

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  • Oklahoma City Thunder (3-0) @ Dallas Mavericks (1-2)
  • When: Monday, 27 October 2025 at 7:30pm CST
  • Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
  • TV: FDOK
  • Offensive Rating: DAL: 106.3 (26th) / OKC: 116.4 (10th)
  • Defensive Rating: DAL: 115.9 (19th) / OKC: 106.8 (5th)
  • Net Rating: DAL: -9.6 (26th) / OKC: 9.6 (4th)

The Set-Up

Regional rivalries. The rivalries that never die, regardless of record. Think OU vs. Texas, Indiana vs. Detroit, New York vs. Boston, etc. Timeless classics where civic fandom shines the brightest. Yeah, “era rivalries” are fun, but they are like fireworks: they look great when they are being shot off, but a day later, no one really cares or reminisces too much about them. Even though both are currently still good teams, there is no fervent clamoring for Cleveland vs. Golden State.

OKC vs. Dallas has always been a fun rivalry. The Battle of I-35. Since the existence of the Thunder, both teams have been chockful of great, MVP-level players and championship contention. Both teams have won a championship during that time. And both team are hellbent on winning another. Here’s to another 18 years of regional hate/respect.

This is the first of three meetings this season between the Thunder and Mavs. The Mavs were the only team in the league last season to defeat the Thunder three times in the regular season. The Thunder’s lone victory: the NBA Cup quarterfinals. Got to win the ones that count.

Betting Info presented by FanDuel

  • Line: OKC -8.5
  • O/U: 226.5

Injury Report

OKC

  • Alex Caruso – OUT (concussion protocol)
  • Chet Holmgren – Questionable (back)
  • Isaiah Joe – OUT (knee)
  • Thomas Sorber – OFS (knee-ACL)
  • Nikola Topic – OUT (testicular procedure)
  • Jalen Williams – OUT (wrist)
  • Kenrich Williams – OUT (knee)

DAL

  • Dante Exum – OUT (knee)
  • Daniel Gafford – Doubtful (ankle)
  • Kyrie Irving – OUT (knee)
  • Dereck Lively II – Doubtful (knee)
  • Brandon Williams – Questionable (personal)

Three Big Things

  1. Weakness vs. Strength – The Thunder are probably the best perimeter defense in the league. The Mavericks, who currently don’t have a healthy point guard on the roster, average 19 turnovers per game and have a rookie power forward running point. Now mind you, that rookie power forward is number one pick Cooper Flagg and his tenure as the team’s starting point guard has improved with each game played. But still, the Thunder should find ways to turn the Mavericks over and turn defense into offense pretty consistently in this game.
  2. PJ Washington – Definitely up there in the pantheon of Thunder killers. For some reason, the man has a hatred for Oklahoma City. Since joining the Mavericks around the 2024 trade deadline, Washington is averaging 17.4 points and 9.4 rebounds, while shooting 41.7% from three whenever he plays against OKC (to include the playoffs). In addition, Dallas has won five games in a row against the Thunder when Washington plays and 8 of 11 overall during his Mavs tenure. As much as we don’t want to make it a thing, it’s a little bit of a thing.
  3. Ajay Mitchell – There’s a saying in the NBA where if you want to see if a player is actually good, that you need to wait at least 10 games to see if his quality of play continues after that. Reason being is that once NBA coaches get ten games worth of film on a player, they usually have mapped out ways to defend the player. In three games this season, Mitchell has been a revelation, averaging 18.7 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 42% shooting from deep while providing OKC with the secondary ball-handler they so desperately needed with the absence of Jalen Williams. It’ll be interesting to see how teams start to defend Mitchell now, knowing he is the team’s 2nd best play-maker and ball-handler. Conversely, it’ll be interesting to watch Mitchell’s counters to what defenses throw at him now.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder preview (Game 6 of 82)

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reggie jackson tony allen thunder grizzlies

  • When: Friday, 07 November 2014 at 7:00 PM CST
  • Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK

The Oklahoma City Thunder come into Friday night’s match-up against the Memphis Grizzlies at 1-4. A far cry from the number 2 seeded team they were in the playoffs last season. Don’t let the record fool you, though. Yes, injuries have bitten the team hard, but in that stead, a champion’s heart has started to emerge. Even though the team has fluctuated between 7-8 healthy players, the Thunder have been in every game heading into the 4th quarter except one. That is a testament to the players’ wills and to the coaching staff for having the team prepared. With that said, the season stops for no team and continues on.

The Thunder vs. Grizzlies match-up is a rivalry that has been building for the past few seasons. Both teams started their ascension to the top of the Western Conference around the same team, with the Thunder having gone a little bit further in that time span. Last season, the Thunder won the season series 3-1, but nearly got ousted by the Grizzlies in the first round. That playoff match-up was one for the ages with Games 2-5 being decided in overtime. The series featured game-saving 4-point plays, epic 4th quarter comebacks, super-nova’ed bench players, and Perkins hitting a game-tying put back to send one of the games to overtime.

The Opponent

allen randolph gasol conley grizzlies

The Grizzlies come into the game with a 5-0 record, boasting the best defense in the league. They allow a league low 86.2 points per game and are 2nd in Defensive Rating. The offense, while not high scoring, is one of the better half-court offenses in the league. Mike Conley continues to play his part as “most underrated point guard in the league.” With per game averages of 15.4 points, 6.6 assists, and 1.4 steals, Conley continues to be one of the most consistent point guards in the league. Up front, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol make up one of the most formidable front court duos in the league. Their size and skill in the post creates problems for most teams. On the wing, Courtney Lee is currently shooting an unsustainable 70% from 3-point territory and Tony Allen is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league (just ask Kevin Durant). The Grizzlies’ bench is veteran-laden, featuring Vince Carter, Quincy Pondexter, Kosta Koufos, and Beno Udrih.

Probable Starting Line-ups

Memphis Grizzlies

  • PG – Mike Conley
  • SG – Courtney Lee
  • SF – Tony Allen
  • PF – Zach Randolph
  • C – Marc Gasol

Oklahoma City Thunder

  • PG – Reggie Jackson
  • SG – Jeremy Lamb
  • SF – Lance Thomas
  • PF – Serge Ibaka
  • C – Steven Adams

3 Keys to the Game

1. PaceΒ – The Grizzlies play at one of the slower paces in the league. They take their time, look for efficient shots, and keep turnovers to a minimum. Although the Thunder don’t have the horses to run like they normally would, a quicker pace may be advantageous to them in this game. If the Thunder play at the Grizzlies’ pace, they may play into the opponent’s hands (paws?).

2. Perimeter shooting big men – The Grizzlies love to pack the paint and dare you to shoot jumpers. Their anchor on the interior is Gasol, the 2012-13 NBA Defensive Player of the Year. But a line-up with any two of Serge Ibaka, Lance Thomas, or Nick Collison, who can do damage from the perimeter, could take Gasol and Randolph out of the comfort zone of the interior and open up driving lanes for Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, and Sebastian Telfair.

Jeremy Lamb

3. Jeremy Lamb – This will likely be Lamb’s first game of the season. It will be interesting to see how Lamb reacts, not only to being one of the primary offensive options on the team, but also to having no restrictions or pressure on him. Even if he shoots awful, there is no one behind him in the depth chart to take his place.