OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (2-3) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (2-2)
When: 8 p.m., Saturday
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: BSSW
Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
What you need to know: The Mavs are coming off Thursday’s impressive 129-125 overtime victory on the road against the Brooklyn Nets – one of the Eastern Conference teams favored to reach the NBA Finals this season. . .Tonight’s game is the opener of a five-game homestand and starts a period where the Mavs can do some considerable damage considering they’ll play 10 of their ensuing 12 games at home. This also is the first game of the first back-to-back of the season for the Mavs, who will host the Orlando Magic on Sunday. . .Superstar point guard Luka Doncic totally destroyed the Nets as he finished with season highs in points (41), rebounds (11) and assists (14). It was the third 40-point triple-double of Doncic’s career, tying him for sixth place on the NBA’s all-time list in this category. He also is the first Mavs player to open a season with four games scoring 30 or more points. In addition, Doncic joined Russell Westbrook (2016) as the only players to start a season recording at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists in each of the season’s first four games. In paying homage to his status as the top candidate to win this season’s Most Valuable Player award, Doncic is averaging a league-high 36.3 points along with 9.5 rebounds and 9.3 assists. Additionally, Doncic now has 47 career triple-doubles. . .Despite scoring just 11 points against the Nets in a game where he was plagued by foul difficulties, Christian Wood is still averaging 21 points and eight rebounds, and shooting a sizzling 61.9 percent from the field and a red-hot 66.7 percent from three-point land. . .Spencer Dinwiddie is averaging 16.3 ppg and shooting 51.1 percent from the field and a scorching 56.5 percent from beyond the three-point arc. . .Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a season-high 18 points against the Nets and is averaging 14.3 ppg. . .The Mavs were 3-1 against OKC last season. . .The Thunder 
are in the midst of enjoying an extremely impressive week. And it’s all at the expense of the Los Angeles Clippers. After opening the season with road losses at Minnesota (115-108) and Denver (122-117) — coupled with a home loss to Minnesota (116-106) – the Thunder bounced back and promptly bounced the highly-regarded Clippers twice in a three-day span. OKC upended the Clippers this past Tuesday (108-94) and again on Thursday (118-110). . .Point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paved the way in Tuesday’s win with 33 points and eight assists, and followed that up with 24 points and six assists during Thursday’s victory. Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 29.3 ppg and 6.5 apg, Tre Mann averages 14.8 ppg, Josh Giddey is averaging 14.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg and five apg, and Luguentz Dort is scoring at a 13.6 ppg clip. . .OKC is 19th in the league in scoring (111.4 ppg) and 14th in fewest points allowed (111.4 ppg).
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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