There was a time when it appeared the Los Angeles Clippers and later the Phoenix Suns were going to be long-term rivals for the Luka Doncic era. Perhaps the Thunder will have more staying power than those other two franchises and provide a foil for Dallas now and for a few seasons to come.
After both of these teams spent the week going 3-0 against mostly inferior teams, the showdown we have all been waiting for has arrived. The Dallas Mavericks head to Oklahoma City to take on the rival Thunder. The eyes of the NBA world will be on this one. Let’s dig in and find a bet worth taking.
**Game Details**
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Fixture: [Dallas Mavericks](https://www.mavsmoneyball.com) vs Oklahoma City Thunder | NBA 2024-2025
Date and Time: Tuesday, December 10th, 2024; 8:30 PM CST
Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
**Outcome Odds**
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* Spread: OKC -4.5 (-105)
* O/U 232
* Mavs ML: -1100
[Odds up to date as of 2:30 AM CST from DraftKings](https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/event/dal-mavericks-%40-okc-thunder/31477112)
**Player Props**
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* PJ Washington over 20 Points plus Rebounds (+105)
* Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 30 points (-115)
Washington’s number here is too low despite his tough shooting night in Toronto.
The SGA mid-range will get spammed over and over - especially down the stretch. Previous matchups have shown that when the Dallas defense clamps down it it more SGA, not less. This is a strong lean.
**Play of the Day**
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The smart move is to bet on the Mavericks here. I expect both teams to show up and a close battle may well ensue. Dallas has matchup advantages at Center, Washington has thrived against the Thunder at the Power Forward and clutch time should favor Dallas as well. The absence of Chet Holmgren factors into this selection as well. Who protects the paint when Hardenstein is resting or encounters foul difficulty?