Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: A Historical Rivalry

Head-to-Head Stats Paint a Picture of Close Competition

The Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder have faced off in a total of 197 games over the years, with the Mavericks holding a slight edge with 100 wins to the Thunder's 97. The teams have met in the playoffs on multiple occasions, with the Thunder winning two of the three series. In the 2011 Western Conference Finals, the Thunder defeated the Mavericks in six games, and in the 2012 Western Conference Semifinals, they won in five games. However, in their most recent playoff matchup in 2014, the Mavericks triumphed over the Thunder in six games in the Western Conference First Round.

Individual Performances and Memorable Matchups

Some of the most memorable games between the Mavericks and Thunder have featured standout performances by individual players. In the 2011 Western Conference Finals, Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 26.5 points per game, while Dirk Nowitzki averaged 26.1 points per game for the Mavericks. In the 2012 Western Conference Semifinals, Russell Westbrook had a triple-double in Game 1, and Nowitzki scored 40 points in Game 5. More recently, in their 2014 playoff series, Monta Ellis averaged 25.3 points per game for the Mavericks, and Westbrook averaged 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game for the Thunder.