A CHIPPY AFFAIR
Just because OKC ended up winning by 19 and at one point led by 29 doesn’t mean this game withheld entertainment. The Thunder dominated the Mavs from the jump and the game never really felt in doubt. That tends to happen when Dallas faces a top-5 team in the NBA without their entire starting unit and their most prominent reserve. That’s right, no Deron, Wes, Parsons, Dirk or Zaza. Pachulia was supposed to be the only starter to actually give it a go but Rick Carlisle scratched him late after hearing complaints of a sore achilles.