Mavericks vs. Thunder Prediction and Odds for December 10: Which Team Will Advance Out of the In-Season Tournament Quarterfinal

The Dallas Mavericks (16-8) will face the Oklahoma City Thunder (18-5) in the Quarterfinal round of the NBA In-Season Tournament on Tuesday night.

The Mavericks won 11 of their last 12 games and beat the Thunder 121-119 on the road on Nov. 17. Luka Doncic did not play for Dallas, while Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein could not go for OKC.

The Thunder’s 18-5 record is the best in the Western Conference, and they storm into the matchup having won seven of their last eight. They’re 9-2 in their building and are looking to cement their claim to the title of the “Best team in the conference.”

Here, we will review the odds and share our favorite Mavericks vs. Thunder betting picks for the NBA In-Season Tournament on Tuesday.

Mavericks vs. Thunder Betting Odds for Tuesday, December 10

The Mavs are 14-9-1 (60.9 percent) against the spread, 5-2-1 (71.4 percent) ATS as an underdog, and 7-5-1 (58.3 percent) ATS on the road.

The Thunder are 14-9 (60.9 percent) ATS, 13-9 (59.1 percent) ATS as a favorite, and 6-5 (54.6 percent) ATS at home.

The following odds for the Mavericks vs. Thunder game are courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Head over to BetMGM to place your bets and claim up to $1,500 in bonus bets* with our promo code WSNSPORTS.

*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms.

Mavericks vs. Thunder Prediction

Dallas Mavericks Preview

The Mavericks rode their incandescent late-season form to the NBA Finals last year, where it became painfully clear that they did not have enough multiplicity in their offense to compete with the Boston Celtics.

They spent the offseason upgrading and retooling their roster, bringing in marquee additions such as Klay Thompson, Quentin Grimes, and Naji Marshall. That resulted in the creation of what is currently the hottest team in the league, one that is exceptional offensively and defensively and has a chip on its shoulder.

The Mavericks rank fourth in offensive and eighth in defensive rating, resulting in them outscoring their opponents by 7.2 points per 100 possessions (fifth). Only them, the Memphis Grizzlies, and the Thunder are ranked in the top eight in both categories. 

Dallas’ greatest strength is its array of ways in which it can attack opponents.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are outstanding individual creators who can score off the dribble or collapse the defense and create open shots for their teammates. Thompson and Grimes provide movement shooting, while the center tandem of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II averaged a combined 21.6 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks in 44.1 minutes per game.

Marshall can get downhill and cause havoc for defensive switches, while PJ Washington can screen, initiate, shoot from the corner, crash the glass, or punish mismatches on the block. 

The Mavs increased their efficiency to 119.9 points per 100 possessions during their recent 12-game hot streak, trailing only the New York Knicks and the Celtics during that time. Almost as impressively, they stayed at seventh in defensive rating during this stretch.

The team as a whole is also up to seventh in average pace and is in the top 11 in turnover percentage, true shooting percentage, and rebound rate.

Use WSNSPORTS at BetMGM for $1,500 Bonus

Oklahoma City Thunder Preview

On the other side, the Thunder, as we mentioned, are one of very few teams in the league who can stand up to the Mavs on both sides of the ball.

While Shai-Gilgeous Alexander ranks fourth in scoring and is an MVP candidate for the second year running, its defense that defines the Thunder. They’re outstanding personnel allows them to play ultra-aggressive perimeter defense and to get away with switches that most other teams would either be at a disadvantage as a result of or would forgo entirely.

The Thunder allowed a league-best 103.3 points per 100 possessions and rank eighth in offensive rating, having scored just 1.9 points per 100 possessions fewer than the Mavs. 

They hold their opponents to 33.3 percent shooting from deep and are moving in the right direction shooting the ball, climbing to 34.7 percent from three after a terrible start to the season. ‘

The game of basketball is all about creating margins as frequently as possible. One of the places OKC creates its margins is the turnover battle, where they lead the league in points scored off of turnovers (22.6) and also in points allowed off of turnovers (12.5). 

The Thunder’s Achilles heel the last couple of seasons has been its lack of size and strength, which led to it being one of the worst rebounding teams in the league. Their season averages still aren’t impressive, but they ranked a passable 16th in rebound rate since Hartenstein made his debut eight games ago.

Notably, in the previous matchup between OKC and Dallas, PJ Washington exploded for a team-high 27 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.

Mavericks vs. Thunder Betting Pick

• Mavericks vs. Thunder pick: Mavericks +4.5 (-115) at BetMGM

This is going to be a joy for basketball fans to watch as both teams are exceptional and could meet in the Western Conference Finals in a couple of months. 

Dallas has more offensive options, but OKC is committed to creating high-efficiency offense through its movement and speed. Both teams also defend at an elite level, though OKC has the advantage, particularly on the perimeter.

The Thunder tends to be a spiteful team, meaning they like to get revenge on teams they feel have done them wrong. However, this is the knockout portion of the In-Season Tournament, the ability to get buckets down the stretch of a close game favors the team with the best creators.

Claim $1,500 Bonus Offer at BetMGM

How to Watch Mavericks vs. Thunder on 12/10/24

• When: Tuesday, Dec. 10 @ 8:30/9:30 P.M. CT/ET

• Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK

• TV: NBA TV

More NBA Bets and Picks Today

Magic vs. Bucks Same Game Parlay

NBA Player Props and Best Bets for December 10