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If the Dallas Mavericks can climate this current storm of accidents to Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving to make the playoffs, folks across the NBA think about them the largest risk to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the Western Convention.
On the most recent episode of The Hoop Collective Podcast (begins at 21:13 mark), ESPN’s Tim MacMahon famous from discussions with folks within the league {that a} wholesome Mavs crew is considered as the first challenger for the Thunder to succeed in the NBA Finals.
Wholesome is the operative phrase for the Mavs proper now as a result of they’re going to be with out their prime two gamers for the foreseeable future.
Dončić suffered a calf pressure throughout Dallas’ loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Mavs announced on Dec. 27 he will likely be re-evaluated in a month. He has handled calf points previously, together with an harm that trigger him to overlook the primary three video games of a first-round playoff collection in opposition to the Utah Jazz in April 2022.
MacMahon and Shams Charania reported on Monday that Irving will miss not less than one to 2 weeks with a bulging disc in his again.
Dallas was capable of snap a five-game dropping streak on Tuesday evening with a 118-97 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. It was the primary time in 11 video games this season the Mavs gained a recreation that each Dončić and Irving sat out.
The Mavericks had a sluggish begin this season with a 5-7 report via 12 video games earlier than getting sizzling. They gained 14 of their subsequent 17 video games and climbed as excessive because the No. 3 seed within the Western Convention in mid-December.
Regardless of this current tough patch, the Mavs are nonetheless clinging to the fifth spot within the West at 21-16 total. There’s little or no margin of error with simply 2.5 video games separating them from the Golden State Warriors because the No. 10 seed.
We all know the Mavericks at full energy could cause issues for the Thunder. The 2 groups met within the Western Convention semifinals final season, with Dallas profitable in six video games.
Oklahoma Metropolis has taken one other step ahead to this point this season with a 30-5 report, regardless of not having Chet Holmgren since Nov. 10 resulting from a pelvic fracture. The Thunder rank first within the NBA in defensive score and web score.
The Mavs and Thunder have cut up their first two head-to-head conferences this season. They may play two extra video games throughout the common season within the span of six days on Jan. 17 and 23.
So long as the Mavs can preserve their head above water whereas Dončić and Irving are out, we all know from final season they are often as harmful as any crew within the West within the playoffs.
