Dallas Morning News
Eddie Sefko:
http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/2012/...ly-lucky.html/
Why OKC Thunder (Mavs’ foe Thursday) are likely to be in foul mood but have been ‘incredibly lucky’
Mavericks at Oklahoma City
7 p.m. today, TV: TNT; Radio: KESN-FM (103.3), KFLC-AM (1270 in Spanish).
Scouting the Mavericks
They are hoping to avoid their first four-game losing streak of the season. A lonely win against Philadelphia is the only bright spot since Dec.11. They are 1-6 since then. … Dirk Nowitzki had eight points and six rebounds in 20 minutes in his season debut Sunday and probably will remain on a minutes restriction, especially given that the Mavericks play again Friday in Dallas against Denver. … They have lost four of their last five regular-season meetings with the Thunder, and that doesn’t include the first-round sweep in the playoffs last season. … Shawn Marion continues to be the Mavericks’ most reliable player, with a double-double in four of the last six games he’s played.
Scouting the Thunder
They are likely to be in a foul mood after losing two in a row on the road, including Christmas Day in Miami. … In their 103-97 loss to the Heat, four players combined to score 84 of Oklahoma City’s points. Beyond Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and Kevin Martin, they have little firepower. Of course, that foursome can create havoc for a defense. … They continue to have incredible luck in the injury department. They have had the same starting five in every game. By comparison, the Mavericks have had 10 players start games this season, and that will grow to 11 when Dirk Nowitzki makes his first start of the season. … Durant is second in the NBA in scoring at 28 per game and he shoots 52 percent from the field and 43 percent on 3-pointers.