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Here's everything you need to know about Thunder vs. Mavericks on Saturday, May 18 — our expert prediction and betting picks for today's game.
We have a shot at three Game 7s this round, but the Oklahoma City Thunder have the largest uphill climb in doing so, with potentially the greatest reward on the backend.
The Dallas Mavericks are at home in Game 6, a luxury not afforded to either the Denver Nuggets or New York Knicks, both of whom got whooped on the road and will return home for Game 7.
For Dallas, it also means a loss would put them on the road to end the series.
Let's get into my Thunder vs. Mavericks pick and prediction for Game 6 on Saturday night.
Thunder vs. Mavericks Odds
Saturday, May 18, 8 p.m. ET, ABC
| Thunder Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
| +3.5 -110 |
209.5 -110 / -110 |
+142 |
| Mavericks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
| -3.5 -110 |
209.5 -110 / -110 |
-168 |
Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute NBA odds here.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Of all the teams who were trailing 3-2 heading into Thursday, OKC was the only one who could get a home Game 7. So while the Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves handled business at home in Game 6, they're both back on the road for Game 7.
OKC, because of their current predicament, are the only underdog between teams who were trailing 3-2 this round who are a Game 6 underdog. Both the Pacers and Wolves were favored to push to seven, the Thunder aren't.
Barring a Mavericks collapse in Game 4, this really could be over by now.
Every winner in this series has also covered, meaning the Thunder are 2-3 against the spread here.
In the playoffs, OKC has partook in the most total unders by percentage of every team who won a Round 1 series. They're 2-7 to the under.
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs, tied with Denver, are 4-7 to the under in the playoffs, second by percentage behind OKC for most unders in the playoffs amongst all the relevant teams.
The Mavs have the second-best record against the spread in the playoffs, too, at 7-4 ATS, trailing only the Wolves, who are 7-3.
Additionally, Dallas is 3-2 ATS this series.
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are guys to watch on the player prop market. Neither have exploded and could be "buy low" options at home.
Doncic is at 28.5 points, in which he has two overs in this series — 29 and 31 respectively. His rebounds are listed at 10.5, which he's only gone over twice. If you could find a 9.5, that's a nice over, given that he's cleared in four straight — but two were ten exactly.
For Irving, his points are at 19.5, and while he's cleared twice, he's gotten three unders that weren't even close: 12, 9 and 9. Assists are at 5.5, though, and he cleared in three straight before tallying four in Game 5.
Thunder vs. Mavericks
Betting Pick & Prediction
I loved Dallas before the season began, I took them to win this series in six, and I have a longshot ticket on them to win the West. So this is Dallas or nothing for me, and if they lost, I'd probably still take them on the road in Game 7 against the Thunder.
I may ladder this in the Action App before tip-off.
Pick: Mavericks -3.5 (-110)
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