2012 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinals, Game #3
#2 Oklahoma City Thunder at #7 Dallas Mavericks
Best of Seven Series, Format 2-2-1-1-1
Thunder Leads Series 2-0
American Airlines Center – Dallas, Texas
Thursday, May 3, 2012, 9:35 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Opening Line: Dallas -1
Current Money Line: Dallas -3
Opening Total: 195
Current Total: 194
Opening Money Line: Mavericks -155 / Thunder +135
Current Money Line: Mavericks -160 / Thunder +140
After two very close games, the #2 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, coached by Scott Brooks, held serve at home and took a 2-0 series lead against the #7 seed Dallas Mavericks, coached by Rick Carlisle. The Mavericks who won the NBA title last season beat the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals in five games en route to that title. Dallas held late leads in each of the first two games of the series this season, but the Thunder came back to win each game. Oklahoma City won game #1 99-98 Saturday, and game #2 102-99 Monday night. Now the series shifts South to Dallas for games 3 and 4.
In game #2, Oklahoma City took a 98-97 lead with 50 seconds to go on two free throws from Kevin Durant. He was bailed out with 2.6 seconds left on the shot clock on a foul from Jason Terry. James Harden made 4 free throws down the stretch for OKC to seal the win. Dirk Nowitzki missed a 12 foot jumper late that would have given Dallas the lead, and Terry missed 2 3 pointers in the last 5 seconds that would have tied it up and sent into overtime. It was another frustrating loss for the Mavericks who probably should have gotten at least a split in Oklahoma City.
Durant had 26 points and 10 rebounds in the game #2 win. He had an off shooting night going 5/17 from the field but made up for it on the free throw line by making 14/16 from the line. Point guard Russell Westbrook had 29 points. Harden added 15 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals off the bench in the win. Kendrick Perkins added 13 points, and Derek Fisher had 11. As a team the Thunder shot 44.8% from the field, including 5/16 from 3 point range. The Thunder made 37 of 39 free throws. OKC had 12 fast break points and 18 points in the paint. The Thunder had 37 rebounds and the Mavericks had 35. Oklahoma City had 16 turnovers.
Nowitzki led all scorers in game #2 with 31 points and 6 rebounds. He made all 11 of his free throw attempts, and was 10/19 from the field. Forward Shawn Marion added 15 points and 8 rebounds. Delonte West and Terry both had 13 points. Jason Kidd scored 10 points along with 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals. As a team Dallas shot 41.8% from the field including 5/23 from 3 point range. The Mavericks were 28/32 from the foul line. Dallas had 6 fast break points and 40 points in the paint. The Mavericks had 13 turnovers.
Injuries aren’t really an issue for either team, although Thunder reserve guard Eric Maynor is out for the season with a knee injury. He only played in 9 games and averaged around 4 points a game.
The Thunder are 35-33 ATS and the total is 33-35 this season. The Mavericks are 34-34 ATS and the total is 35-33 this season. OKC is 9-2-1 ATS recently in Dallas. The road team is 34-15-2 in this series recently, and the underdog is 19-6-1 as well. Dallas has covered 5 of the last 6 against Oklahoma City.
The Thunder are 14-3 ATS in Thursday games, 8-3-1 on two days rest, 1-4 as an underdog of 4.5 points or less, 1-6 after a straight up win, 1-11 against Southwest division teams, 0-4 after failing to cover, against teams with winning records, and after scoring 100 points or more, 0-3-1 in conference quarterfinal games, 0-5 overall, and against Western Conference teams.
The Mavericks are 5-1 ATS after a straight up loss, 4-1 against Western Conference teams, 4-1-1 as a favorite of 4.5 points or less, 6-2 after allowing 100 points or more, 15-5-2 in conference quarterfinal games, 6-2-1 at home against teams with winning road records, 8-3 on two days rest, 5-2 against Northwest division teams, 15-37-1 in Thursday games, 2-5 as a favorite of 4.5 points or less, and 1-3-1 as a playoff favorite.
Yes, the Thunder did get some lucky breaks and bounces in the first two games and could easily be down 2-0. However, the Thunder showed a lot of guts in gritting out two tough wins. Now all they have to do is win 2 of the next 5 games in the series. The Mavericks must win this game or the series is all but over. No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit. Dallas wins a close high-scoring game tonight to get back in the series.
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