NBA League Pass Featured Matchup: Mavericks vs. Thunder (9:30 ET)

This week is a significant one for the NBA with the onset of the NBA Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday. These games are crucial as they count towards both the tournament and regular-season standings. The matchup between Dallas and Oklahoma City will determine who advances to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas and will also have a major impact on the Western Conference standings. To get you ready and excited for this game, here are five key things to know about the Mavericks and Thunder.

Hot is facing even hotter:

The Thunder have been on a strong run. They are 7-3 over their last 10 games and sit atop the Western Conference with an 18-5 record. That’s impressive … but the Mavericks have that topped. Not only is Dallas 9-1 over its last 10 outings, it is on a seven-game winning streak.

Kia MVP candidates pacing both teams:

Dallas and Oklahoma City both are centered around guys who have been Kia MVP candidates in the past, and are expected to be in the running this year as well (even if Nikola Jokić is making it tough on anybody else to make a case). Luka Dončić has missed a few games, but he’s averaged 28.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t quite tallied rebounds or dimes at the same pace, but he’s one-upping his Mavericks counterpart as a scorer, averaging 29.8 points.

Who is supporting Dončić in Dallas?:

Kyrie Irving has been producing at a high level, averaging 24.3 points, but keep an eye on P.J. Washington. While chipping in almost 13 points a night, he’s averaged over one block and one steal per game.

And what about the Thunder behind SGA?:

Jalen Williams has been playing like a guy who wants to make the All-Star Game. He’s averaged 22.0 points and has chipped in 5.0 assists a night, along with a whopping 2.1 steals per contest. Meanwhile, since getting healthy, Isaiah Hartenstein has been a force on the boards. He’s averaged 12.8 rebounds, while also adding 4.5 assists per game as well.

The one key injury in play:

Dallas is, for all intents and purposes, at full strength, at least when it comes to the expected contributors. Oklahoma City, though, does have a notable absence. After a stellar rookie campaign, Chet Holmgren was averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks. He was as imposing a defensive player as you could have found. Then, he broke his hip a month ago, and his return is not imminent.