In a surprising turn of events, the Dallas Mavericks have advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in six games. The absence of superstar forward Kawhi Leonard due to injury shifted the series in favor of the Mavericks, who capitalized on the opportunity led by their star player Luka Doncic.
Now, the Mavericks are set to face off against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, led by NBA MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Despite the Thunder’s impressive rise to the top seed in the Western Conference and their swift victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round, Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green believes the Mavericks will come out on top in this matchup.
Green pointed out that the Mavericks’ physicality and scoring ability could pose a challenge for the Thunder, who may struggle to defend against a bigger team like Dallas. While the Thunder are undoubtedly a talented team with a bright future, Green’s prediction suggests that they may not be ready to contend for a title in the Western Conference just yet.
As the Mavericks and Thunder prepare to face off in what promises to be an exciting second-round series, basketball fans are eager to see if Green’s prediction will hold true or if the Thunder can prove him wrong and continue their impressive playoff run.