Mavs chase a win streak against the dominant Thunder, facing MVP contender SGA and an unbreakable defense. Can Dallas shock the league's best?
Just when you'd like to be able to define yourself as "hot.'' ...
Along comes Oklahoma City.
The Dallas Mavericks have created for themselves a three-game winning streak as they try to climb their way out of the NBA West basement.
But after beating the LA Clippers, the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat. ... a different level of challenge awaits.
The Mavs travel to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night, and no matter their record, we know what OKC is: The current NBA defending champions.
How about a little complacency after winning the Finals?
How about taking the foot off the gas a bit?
Nope. Nope.
OKC owns a league-best 21-1 record, and the champs have done that despite Jalen Williams missing the first 19 games of the season.
This marks the best start to a season since the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who finished with an absurd record of 73-9.
Can the Thunder do that? Consider that they aren't just winning ... they are blowing people out, as 14 of their 21 wins have been by double-digits.
Dallas' greatest individual challenge in tonight's game? That would be Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 32.8 points per game.
How does Dallas answer him - and the fact that OKC also owns the best defense in the NBA?
Rookie of the Year candidate Cooper Flagg has been a difference-maker for the Mavs.
And somebody on the other end of the rookie spectrum - undrafted kid point guard Ryan Nembhard - is helping, too, as coach Jason Kidd has put him in the starting lineup.
Anthony Davis will be a key guy upfront for the 8-15 Mavericks amid much speculation that he could be traded. ... yet another obstacle for Dallas to overcome tonight as OKC sits as a 14.5-point favorite.