DALLAS — The Mavericks scored and Russell Westbrook awaited the inbounds pass as usual. Only this wasn't usual in another poor Thunder performance at the American Airlines Center.
Wesley Matthews pounced, stripping Westbrook before he could get a full grasp of the ball in a third quarter the Thunder was losing its grasp on yet again. Instead of chasing Matthews as he dribbled to the corner, Westbrook closed out nonchalantly and the Mavericks had five points in a matter of seconds.
But at the end of the night, the Thunder had another victory, its third in four games since the All-Star break by a combined 11 points against the cellar-dwellers of the NBA.