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Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals features the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks. The game is set for Thursday at 9:30 p.m. ET. In Game 1, the Thunder defeated the Mavericks 117-95. According to the SportsLine consensus, Oklahoma City is the 5-point favorite, with the over/under for total points set at 218.5 (you can find the latest odds on our NBA odds page).
Before you make any picks for Mavericks vs. Thunder, it’s crucial to consider the insights from the SportsLine Projection Model. This model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and over the past five-plus seasons, it’s returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks. As we enter the conference semifinals of the 2024 NBA playoffs, the model is on a hot streak, with a 94-61 record on top-rated NBA picks this season, yielding over $2,800 in returns. If you’ve been following its picks, you’ve likely seen significant profits.
Here’s what you need to know about the key players:
Oklahoma City forward Chet Holmgren is a versatile two-way threat. He’s known for his strong rim protection and ability to score from all three levels. In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, he averages 16 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. In Game 1, he posted 19 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks.
Dallas guard Kyrie Irving is a potent offensive force with exceptional clutch performance and elite ball-handling skills. He’s also a threat from the perimeter. Irving’s postseason averages are 25.9 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.
The SportsLine Projection Model has completed its 10,000 simulations of Mavericks vs. Thunder, and here’s what it found: It’s leaning toward the Over on the point total, and one side of the spread hits in nearly 70% of simulations.
So, who wins Mavericks vs. Thunder, and which side of the spread hits in almost 70% of simulations?
