Do the OKC Thunder have a Dallas Mavericks problem?

Posted by author January 24, 2025 Sports

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Two recent losses have brought a million-dollar question for the Oklahoma City Thunder — do they have a matchup problem against the Dallas Mavericks? The answer requires nuance after OKC wrapped its regular-season series against Dallas with a disheartening 1-3 record.

The Thunder sit pretty at the top of the West with a 36-8 record. But the depleted Mavericks are responsible for three of their eight losses. Paired with last year’s playoff exit, this has caused panic among OKC fans.

On a micro level, these were two gettable wins for the Thunder. Without Luka Doncic, the Mavericks have plummeted down the standings. They’ve gone 5-11 since he suffered his calf strain on Christmas. They’re on the bubble of missing out on the postseason altogether. They’re only 1.5 games up on the 11th seed with three months left. The frustration is understandable after OKC has blown better teams out left and right.

The Thunder, at the very least, should’ve won their 121-115 loss to Dallas. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams are enough to beat Kyrie Irving. They entered as double-digit favorites but laid a stinker.

The 106-98 loss to the Mavericks is a lot easier to stomach because of Gilgeous-Alexander’s surprise absence but doesn’t make it any less annoying for OKC fans — which Dallas has done an excellent job at doing since last year.

The Mavericks have been the best in the league at getting under OKC’s skin. Each game has involved a scuffle. Technical fouls are handed out like free candy for both sides. Lu Dort was even ejected for the first time in his career after he hit Daniel Gafford in the groin trying to go over a screen.

The all-business Thunder have been forced to fight back against the Mavericks, who have out-physical OKC in their games against each other. They’ve tried to be above that but sometimes, a team has to fight mud with mud. To their credit, the Thunder did that in their latest loss. Even if OKC downplays the rivalry, Dallas has been a mental roadblock for it since the playoffs. The first step of breaking that down is by pushing back. The next step is running up the scoreboard and tasting much-needed wins.

Barring a playoff rematch, that won’t happen this season. But the next time they meet, OKC should do that with a healthy double-big lineup. After all, the Thunder getting destroyed in Chet Holmgren’s minutes off the floor in last year’s playoffs was a top motivator to add Isaiah Hartenstein. Theoretically speaking, they won’t have to suffer through that again. At least one will be on the floor at all times.

This should also help curb Washington’s impact. It’s not a coincidence that he went off in all three games against OKC without a true center. The Thunder learned their lesson and added Hartenstein to curb that aside. His on-court antics won’t have the same effect if he can’t back it up on the court. Instead of fighting in the paint against OKC’s smaller bench wings, he’ll have to fight off against Williams, Hartenstein and Holmgren. There’s no weak spot for him to attack.

On a macro level, these four matchups mean nothing. Too many important variables were absent from both sides. Holmgren missed all four games; Doncic and Hartenstein each missed three games; Gilgeous-Alexander missed a game; Dereck Lively II missed the last two games.

Even the role players were hit with injuries. Washington, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe and Ajay Mitchell all missed at least one game. Irving and Williams were the only traditional starters who suited up and played all four games uninterrupted.

It didn’t get any worse than their final regular-season matchup. The Thunder were forced to play Dillon Jones and Jaylin Williams in the clutch. For the Mavericks, they started Kessler Edwards and dusted off Markieff Morris. All four likely see no time on the court with both squads healthy.

It’s fair to say the Mavericks could be a matchup nightmare for the playoffs — especially against playoff risers like Doncic and Irving. But to base that off these four games is misguided. Too many important pieces were out in every game from both sides to conjure any grand conclusions.

Using last year’s playoff series fits that category, too. Both teams have evolved since then. Josh Giddey is no longer in OKC and Derrick Jones Jr. used his career season to get a massive deal with the LA Clippers. Gilgeous-Alexander has also taken the next step in his superstardom and the gap between him and Doncic is the smallest it’s ever been.

While Mavericks fans run a victory lap for their three wins, Thunder fans should stay level-headed and view these games in a vacuum as irrelevant — albeit annoying — losses filled with caveats to a team that’s quickly climbed the ranks as their most hated rival.