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The Smoking Cuban

Mavs Take on Westbrook and Thunder in Oklahoma City

By Evan Siegel

DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 20: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.) Dennis Smith Jr. #1 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots a foul shot during the game against the Detroit Pistons on December 20, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 20: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.) Dennis Smith Jr. #1 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots a foul shot during the game against the Detroit Pistons on December 20, 2017 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Danny Bollinger/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Mavs will finish out 2017 with a matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony.

The Mavs are looking for their fourth straight win Sunday, as they head to OKC for a showdown with the Thunder. With a matchup against the Warriors looming shortly afterward, a win is imperative. The Mavs are slowly trying to make up ground toward the final couple of playoff spots in the Western Conference.

Dallas has finally emerged from being last in the Western Conference standings, now currently standing in thirteenth place. The Mavs, currently sitting at 12-25, are 6.5 games behind the Pelicans for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, with forty-five games left to play.

The Thunder have had an up-and-down season to this point. Despite signature wins over the Warriors and Rockets in primetime games, the Thunder have had a hard time forming their offense around their big three of Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony.

The Thunder are fifth in the West entering tonight’s game, with a 20-16 record. They are nine games behind the Golden State Warriors for the top seed in the Western Conference.

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There is definitely a history between these two teams. The teams had their first playoff meeting in the 2010-2011 Western Conference Finals. The series was won by the Mavericks, as Dirk Nowitzki put together arguably his best ever playoff series, with multiple forty-point games including a forty-eight point explosion in game one.

The following year, the Mavs faced off with the Thunder for a rematch, this time as defending champions. The Thunder swept the Mavs after three close wins in games one, two, and four with a blowout win in game three.

Several years later, the two teams met again as the 3-6 matchup in the West playoffs. The Thunder won the series in five games, after the Mavs lost Deron Williams, Chandler Parsons, David Lee, and J.J. Barea to injury. The two teams are completely different now in 2017, but Russell Westbrook and Dirk Nowitzki are still there to square off one more time.

Next: Finding Optimism in a Painful Start to the Mavs Season

Tip-off is early this New Year’s eve, with the game beginning at 6 CT. Follow us on Twitter for live tweets and stay tuned shortly after the game for a recap post.

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