Mavericks hope to slow pace against lightning-fast Thunder

Mavericks at Thunder

8:30 p.m. Saturday, Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City

TV: KTXA/21, ESPN

Radio: ESPN/103.3 FM

Series: Game 1 of best-of-seven

About the Mavericks: Slowing the pace and working the 24-second shot clock following an embarrassing 22-point loss in Sacramento on March 27 turned the season around. Before that system change, the Mavericks were 35-38 and fading fast. Afterward, they went 7-1 and clinched a playoff spot. With a plethora of injuries that forced players to miss 96 combined games, the Mavericks used the next-man-up theory to near-perfection. They’ll have to do it some more as backup center David Lee is doubtful for Game 1 with a right heel injury.

About the Thunder: Having Kevin Durant back for a full season has made a world of difference for the Thunder. OKC missed the playoffs last year, primarily because Durant missed 55 games with a foot injury. But while Russell Westbrook and Durant receive the lion’s share of credit in OKC, the Thunder have a terrific core of frontcourt players. They also were first in the league in rebounds (48.6 rpg), second in scoring (110.2 ppg) and tied for fourth in blocked shots (5.9 bpg).

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 8:53 PM with the headline "Mavericks hope to slow pace against lightning-fast Thunder."