Game 4 Pregame Primer: Thunder (1-2) @ Mavericks (2-1)

Game Info

NBA.com preview | Tip-off: 8:30pm, American Airlines Center | Broadcast: TNT

3 Big Things

• Bringing home momentum. The Thunder are behind in the series, which feelsbadman. But a Game 4 win would carry them back to Oklahoma City in control of the semifinals with a positive point differential, home court advantage and--if you believe in him--Big Mo. Look no further than Denver for an example of a rejuvenated higher seed digging its way out of a (deeper) series deficit.
• Stopping Klay Thompson P.J. Washington. There have been plenty of causes for OKC's inability to score, defend, and play-make well enough to edge out Dallas the last two games. But Washington has been gushing threes from the Thunder's schematic leaks and tradeoffs around the arc. Shutting that water off, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put it after Game 3, should further dry up the Mavs' offense (110.4 ORTG in the semis).
• Return to scoring form. Aside from SGA, Oklahoma City has underwhelmed on offense this series. JDub, Dort, and (especially) Chet have taken efficiency hits, contributing to a fatal drop in three-point conversions the last two games. Hitting 10 treys per game, as they have in those contests, would have ranked dead last in the league post All-Star break. The playoffs are a make-or-miss tournament.

Prediction

I've still got the Thunder in 6.

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