The top-seeded OKC Thunder will welcome the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks for Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. OKC secured their first trip past the opening round since 2016 by sweeping the eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans, while Dallas moved forward with a 4-2 series victory over the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers.
The Thunder won the regular-season series against the Mavericks, 3-1. Dallas will be without Maxi Kleber, who suffered a shoulder injury in the first round.

Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:

FINAL: Thunder 117, Mavericks 95

The Thunder keeps rolling. Snags a 117-95 Game 1 win over Dallas. Shot 11 for 18 from 3 in the second half before garbage time. SGA got to the line plenty. The Thunder’s role players rushed for loose boards, helping outrebound the Mavs 52-39.

Game 2 is Thursday night (8:30 p.m., ESPN).

5:14 left in 4Q: Thunder 111, Mavericks 89

OKC’s bench has outscored Dallas’ bench 36-17.

End 3Q: Thunder 89, Mavericks 79 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander having great game despite injury concerns

Thunder with a 89-79 lead after 3. Just 3 after 3 in that quarter. Game completely changed when Isaiah Joe checked in. Worth noting DJJ and Dort each have four fouls. Gafford and Lively each have three.

Shai favoring his ankle after that last possession. Had to give it up mid play.

4:37 left in 3Q: Thunder 80, Mavs 69

Important defensive possession. Chet’s denial from range that Kyrie has been comfortable with, Dort denying Luka until Lively is forced to give in on a wacky end-of-clock middy.

7:22 left in 3Q: Thunder 66, Mavericks 65

Dallas is on a 9-0 run and we’ve got a game.

Half: Thunder 62, Thunder 53 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has OKC up at halftime in Game 1

OKC starting to get to the line, get Dallas’ bigs in trouble at the rim. 13 combined FTA between SGA and JDub in that quarter. Mavs went just 1 for 8 from deep in the 2nd after going 4 for 10 in the 1st. OKC’s role players coming through.

Jalen Williams is furious with the officials over something going into halftime. Was stretching his leg. I imagine it was about landing space.

9:14 left 2Q: Mavericks 31, Thunder 29 | Chet Holmgren shaken up

Thunder center Chet Holmgren appeared to get swiped in the face going to the basket, leading to a Dereck Lively dunk on the other end. Timeout on the floor.

End 1Q: Thunder 23, Mavericks 23 | Kyrie Irving scoreless for Dallas

About what you’d expect thru 1 here, with Mavs and OKC tied at 23. Dallas making OKC make tough decisions, hitting corner 3s and fitting Gafford the ball through tight windows. SGA has 8. Not exactly being doubled at half, but he’s seeing reasonable gap help. Kyrie Irving is 0-for-4 from the field with four turnovers.

12, Mavericks 10 | Luka Doncic hobbled but carrying Dallas

Lu Dort, as expected, staying attached to the Luka Doncic matchup. Some unreal shotmaking from Doncic so far. Perfect pivots, signature step backs. Notably opted for one when he drew Chet on that last switch.

Doncic, who has seven points, entered the media timeout seeming to favor his lower left leg after colliding with a Thunder defender on the last offensive possession.

Thunder postgame show will air on KSBI

The end of the first round of the NBA playoffs also marked an end of the season for Michael Cage, Chris Fisher and the Thunder’s TV crew broadcasting live games. While OKC’s games are no longer on Bally Sports Oklahoma through the duration of the playoffs, a version of the postgame show will live on after Game 1 tonight.

Thunder knows Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving are ‘hard to stop’

Mark Daigneault is privy to the dangers that Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving present at their best.

OKC emerged victorious in its season series against Dallas 3-1, but the Mavericks were left without the services of their star duo for half of them.

In those games, Doncic averaged a 34-point triple-double, while Irving maintained a high level of performance with 30.5 points, 10 assists and five rebounds per game.

Yet, Daigneault knows the tandem’s impact is inevitable.

“They have a really good fastball and they know how to throw it,” Daigneault said.

“We know what it is, and it’s really hard to stop. They’ve got two really good top-end guys. They put you in a lot of natural dilemmas without a lot of fluff, so it’s going to be a tall task, and it’s certainly one we’re taking very seriously.”

Doncic is nursing a right knee injury, and his limitations were evident in the Mavericks’ first round against the LA Clippers.

Despite nursing a right knee injury, Doncic met his expected average of 30 points in the Mavericks’ first-round win against the LA Clippers.

However, he had his career’s least efficient playoff series, shooting 40.5% from the field through the six-game series. On the defensive end, Doncic stepped up, as opponents shot 40.7% from the field when guarded by him.

OKC hopes to make it ‘as challenging as possible’ for Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving

In baseball, every pitcher has a go-to weapon in its arsenal.The craftier ones might lean on a curveball, changeup or slider. But in basketball, Dallas’ bread and butter isn’t as complex.

The Mavericks lean on their backcourt of Doncic and Irving, who’ve combined for 56.3 points per game this postseason.“They’re fastball pitchers who pump 99 and 100-mile-per-hour fastballs,”

OKC head coach Mark Daigneault said. “We have to not flinch, understand that it’s not going to be a perfect game. “Understand we’re not shutting those guys out by any stretch and rely on the cumulative effect of trying to make it as challenging as possible for them and for their team.”