Mavericks, Thunder Set for in High-Stakes NBA Cup Quarterfinal

The Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder are set to clash in a highly anticipated NBA Cup Quarterfinal matchup Tuesday night at Paycom Center. With a trip to Las Vegas and a spot in the semifinals on the line, this showdown promises playoff-like intensity.

The Mavericks (16-8) are riding a league-best seven-game winning streak, their longest since the 2010-11 championship season. Meanwhile, the Thunder (18-6) sit atop the Western Conference standings, having won seven of their last eight games. Both teams view this single-elimination tournament as an opportunity to measure themselves against elite competition.

“This is the second year (of the tournament), and it’s our first year being involved this far,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “It’s a great measuring stick on the road against the best team in the West. Both teams want to go to Vegas, but only one can go.”

Star Power on Display

The matchup will feature two reigning All-NBA First-Team members in Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with Kyrie Irving, whose recent performances have been pivotal to the Mavericks’ success. Both Dončić and Gilgeous-Alexander are coming off spectacular stretches of play, with Dončić recently being named Western Conference Player of the Week after averaging 29.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists over a 3-0 span.

Dončić enters the game with back-to-back triple-doubles, including a 30-point, 13-rebound, 11-assist outing against Toronto on Saturday. He set a new season high in made threes with six. His ability to impact the game at every level has been instrumental to Dallas’ recent success.

“It just brings me back to my tournament days,” Dereck Lively II said. “Trying to be as competitive as possible, trying to bring as much energy, as much discipline, and as much focus as we can to these games. There’s a lot on the line, and we gotta come out there and put on a show.”

Irving has been a steady force during the Mavericks’ current seven-game winning streak, adding efficient scoring and leadership. He is coming off a 29-point performance in Toronto, with 6 rebounds and 4 assists, and matching Dončić with six made threes. Klay Thompson added 20 points in a game where six players scored double figures.

Reflecting on the team’s chemistry, Irving said, “We’ve just been playing fearless. There’s been carryover game to game, and we’ve been figuring out our weaknesses while building on our strengths. When everybody eats, we’re tough to stop.”

Gilgeous-Alexander continues to perform like an MVP candidate, averaging 30.2 points over his last seven games. His ability to create for himself and his teammates will test Dallas’ defensive schemes, especially if Naji Marshall, one of Dallas’ top on-ball defenders, is unavailable due to illness.

Renewing a Budding Rivalry with the Oklahoma City Thunder

The Mavericks and Thunder have developed a growing rivalry, dating back to last season’s Western Conference semifinals, which Dallas won in six games. Tuesday’s game marks their second meeting this season, with Dallas narrowly winning 121-119 in Oklahoma City on Nov. 17. That game was played without Luka Dončić, while the Thunder were missing Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso.

“They’re a team that goes at us,” Lively said. “They’re a team that’s known us. We’ve played them many times. Whoever makes the least mistakes in that game is going to be the winner. Since both teams know each other so well, it’s just going to be about who goes out there to see who studied more.”

The stakes add another layer to the rivalry, as the Mavericks aim to close the gap in the standings against the Thunder, who hold a 2.5-game lead over Dallas in the West.

Oklahoma City’s roster looks significantly different with the return of Hartenstein and Caruso, who have helped solidify the Thunder’s defensive identity. Hartenstein, in particular, has made an immediate impact, averaging 11.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in eight games since returning from a fractured hand.

“They’ll be healthy when you talk about Hartenstein and also AC back,” Kidd said. “They have a big (guy) that will be in the paint, rebounding, and blocking shots. We’ll see how they look.”

For Dallas, injuries and illnesses have posed challenges. P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall are listed as questionable due to illness, while Maxi Kleber (illness), Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain), and Danté Exum (right wrist surgery) have been ruled out. The availability of Washington, who tallied 27 points and a career-high 17 rebounds in the team’s first meeting, could be a deciding factor.

Dallas Mavericks Thrive on Rebounding, Turnovers, and Depth

In their November matchup, the Mavericks exploited the Thunder’s lack of size, dominating the glass with a 54-29 rebounding advantage. Washington and Lively combined for 22 boards in that contest, helping Dallas offset Dončić’s absence.

“We knew coming in they weren’t really good on the boards because of their size,” Washington said after that game. “Just attack the glass, make them foul, and put them in bad spots.”

However, the Thunder excel in other areas, leading the league in both opponent turnovers and the fewest turnovers committed. Kidd stressed the importance of ball security heading into the game.

“They do a great job with small ball, active hands, passing lanes, and when you drive it, they’re swiping,” Kidd said. “We got to protect the ball. Right now, we’re turning the ball over a little bit too much. For us to find a way to win, we’ve got to protect the ball, especially against them.”

Contributions across the supporting cast have fueled Dallas’ recent winning streak. At least six players have scored in double figures in 10 of their last 11 games, showcasing their depth and versatility. Whether it’s a frontcourt talent like Lively or Gafford finishing in the paint, wings like Washington, Marshall, and Quentin Grimes making plays, or Spencer Dinwiddie taking on a more prominent role, everybody has stepped up lately.

“That’s a nice weapon to have when you don’t have to rely on Luka and Kai every night to be the guys that score 30 or 40 points,” Kidd said. “You spread it around, and it can be anybody, and that’s the truth.”

What’s at Stake

The NBA Cup’s single-elimination format adds urgency to the matchup. The winner advances to the semifinals in Las Vegas to face either Golden State or Houston. Beyond the competitive stakes, players on the winning team will earn an additional $100,000, with $500,000 awarded to each eventual NBA Cup champion.

“This is a great test in December,” Kidd said. “It’s exactly what the league wanted for the in-season tournament.”

Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT, with national coverage on TNT.