Mavericks vs. Thunder: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Odds & More for Opening Series

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks are meeting in the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs in what is a rematch of the 2011 Western Conference Finals.

These teams met four times in the regular season and OKC left with the W in three of them. It’s apparent that this Thunder team is more experienced and hungrier than the one that managed to win just one meager game in the conference championship last May.

Will Oklahoma City edge past the Mavs on their way to the Western Crown this year? Will the Mavericks rally behind their experienced veterans and pull off a shocking upset?

Keep reading to find out that and everything else you need to know about this series.

Where: American Airlines Center (Dallas), Chesapeake Energy Arena (Oklahoma City)

Schedule

Game 1—Mavericks at Thunder: Saturday, April 28 at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game 2—Mavericks at Thunder: Monday, April 30 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT

Game 3—Thunder at Mavericks: Thursday, May 3 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT

Game 4—Thunder at Mavericks: Saturday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT/R

Game 5*—Mavericks at Thunder: Monday, May 7 – TBD

Game 6*—Thunder at Mavericks: Thursday, May 10 – TBD

Game 7*—Mavericks at Thunder: Saturday, May 12 – TBD on TNT

*If necessary

Live Stream

ESPN3 for ESPN broadcasted games.

NBA League Pass

Listen

ESPN 103.3 KESN-FM (Dallas)

Sports Animal 98.1 FM (OKC)

Series Odds

Not Yet Updated

Key Injuries

Dallas

Jason Kidd—day to day (old)

The Mavericks point guard needed some rest before the playoffs but should be good to go for the series

Oklahoma City

No major injuries to report

What They're Saying

Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY found that OKC has two excellent crunch-time players to rely on when things get tight in the final minutes.

"

Both [Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook] averaged 4.9 minutes in the same 30 clutch games this season. Durant averaged 4.8 points to Westbrook's 4.1. Yet Durant took 32 more shots and had a lower shooting percentage (39.3 percent) than Westbrook (43.5 percent).

"Sometimes we missed them, and sometimes we made them," Durant said. "At the end of the day, we've got guys who really enjoy that moment and enjoy wanting to take those shots."

"

Most Important Player to Watch: Kevin Durant

Durant was easily the second-best player in the league this season—after LeBron James’ epic, MVP-worthy campaign—and he will have to be the best player in the series in order for the Thunder to advance.

While earning the No. 2 seed was nice for this young team, they are going up against the defending champs and a group of grizzled veterans who can win against anyone, anywhere.

Durant will need to do his best to pile in the points and will his team to victory.

Key Matchup: Russell Westbrook vs. Dallas defenders

Westbrook is one of the fastest players in the NBA and an absolute blur at the PG position.

The 39-year-old Jason Kidd cannot keep up with him and it will be up to some younger players like Delonte West to attempt to contain the young star.

If they fail to do that, Westbrook is going to wreak havoc and impose his will on this series.

Prediction

Thunder in six.