Game 1 preview: Mavs need energy, experience against youthful Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY – Anybody who’s been watching the NBA for any length of time knows that the key for the Mavericks in the conference semifinals against Oklahoma City can be summed up in one word.

Energy.

The Mavericks no longer are the young team going against the wily graybeards like they were in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Now they are the grizzled veterans, comparatively speaking to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

So the Mavericks need to channel their inner Energizer Bunny when the best-of-seven series opens Tuesday night at Paycom Center in OKC.

You know the Thunder are going to have a bottomless tank of fuel. None of their rotation players are older than 25.

But the Mavericks aren’t exactly geezers. Even Kyrie Irving, by far the oldest player in the rotation, is barely 32 years old.

It’s the mileage, not the months, as they say. But the simple fact is that the Mavericks will have to create their own energy at one of the most vibrant arenas in the NBA.

And where will energy show?

It’ll show in the Mavericks’ defense. And in their rebounding. And in their hustle stats.

Particularly in their rebounding, which was exemplary in the first round against the Clippers.

“At this time of year, if you can get second or third opportunities, that helps,” coach Jason Kidd said. “We’re going to need that against Oklahoma City to be able to get second or third opportunities – understanding that they can be small at times.”

So if the Mavericks take care of the energy situation, they know that there’s another area where they have a distinct advantage: experience.

That starts with Kyrie Irving, as well as Luka Dončić. Both of the Mavericks’ superstars have been deep into the playoffs. There isn’t an ounce of panic in either of them.

Said Kidd: “We talk about Kyrie’s experience, hopefully it’s a factor, especially with OKC being so young.”

Here’s what else to look for when the second round gets rocking Tuesday night:

• The Mavericks have an MVP candidate in Dončić. The Thunder have one in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It’s going to be fascinating watching the two of them trying to will their teams to a victory. The 6-6 Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off a four-game sweep of New Orleans when he averaged 27.3 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. He’s one of the best young players in the league,” Kidd said. “So he puts a lot of pressure on your defense and everyone is going to get a chance to guard him.” The committee probably starts with Derrick Jones, Jr. “Hopefully, we can have some carryover from the defensive side (in the first series) to just try to make it tough on Shai and those guys,” Kidd said. “They’re going to make tough shots.” Hopefully, he added, they are all tough shots.
• The other big variable is the Thunder’s big men. And by big men, we mean their center and power forward, although neither would be considered particularly big by today’s standards. Chet Holmgren, the slender center who has had a marvelous rookie season after missing the 2022-23 season with an injury, is joined by Jalen Williams, the undersized power forward who has become a force in his second NBA season. About Holmgren, Kidd said: “He has a total package, and then, defensively, you got to account for him. If he’s at the rim, he has a great chance of blocking or changing the shot. When you’re going to try to challenge him, he wins most of those battles.”
• If you’re looking for good karma, the last two times the Mavericks have won their first-round series, they have gone on to at least the conference finals – they reached the West finals in 2022 and won the title in 2011. Every other year, they’ve either missed the playoffs or been bounced in the first round.
• Tim Hardaway Jr. will return to action after missing the final four games of the first-round series because of an ankle injury. However, the Mavericks will be without Maxi Kleber, who suffered a separated shoulder in Game 6 against the Clippers. With the Clippers being a relatively small team, the loss of Kleber could be lessened somewhat, although his defense against smaller lineups most certainly will be missed. The Mavericks likely will only be able to play one big man at a time, given the matchup.
• Dončić and Irving combined to average 56.3 points in the six games against the Clippers. The only other Maverick to average double figures against the Clippers was P.J. Washington at 10.8 per game.
• The Thunder have nobody on their injury report.
• The Thunder are favored by 3 1/2 points and the over/under is 215.5 points.

GAME 1: MAVERICKS at OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

• When/where: 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Paycom Center, Oklahoma City.
• TV: TNT.
• Radio: 97.1 FM; 99.1 FM (Spanish).

X: @ESefko