Dallas Mavericks: 3 Keys for Defending Champs to Avoid 1st-Round Exit

The 2012 NBA playoffs didn't begin swimmingly for the defending champion Dallas Mavericks, losing in walk-off fashion to the Oklahoma City Thunder 99-98 Saturday night.

Kevin Durant hit a fading, one-handed shot that bounced off the rim and in with 1.5 seconds left to give the Thunder a 1-0 series lead.

However, the Mavericks made a statement in Game 1, leading most of the way and even holding a 94-87 lead with a little more than two minutes to play. Unlike their title run last year, they were unable to close this one out, but they did show that they can play with the Thunder on any night.

If they want to bounce back and avoid turning an NBA championship into a first-round playoff exit, they'll need to play more games like Game 1. Here are three keys to watch for as the series continues Monday in OKC.

Win on the Road

The Mavericks are 13-20 on the road this season. Ask championship teams and they'll tell you that you have to win on the road to win a championship.

They'll have another opportunity on Monday in Oklahoma City. It could put a ton of pressure on the Thunder to head to Dallas tied 1-1, where they lost three times in the playoffs last season.

Should the Mavs escape this series, they'll also have to continue to win away from home. They'll be the lower seed in almost every series they'd be in, so it would be pivotal to at least go .500 away from the friendly confines of the American Airlines Center.

We'll see if Dallas can bring the same kind of intensity to the road crowd Monday night and beyond in these playoffs.

Win the James Harden-Jason Terry Battle

In Game 1, you'd have to consider this matchup a tie. Jason Terry finished with 20 for Dallas, but only managed six in the second half and was a non-factor down the stretch. James Harden had 19, including 9-of-10 from the free-throw line.

For the rest of the series, it will be imperative that Dallas, and specifically Terry, finds a way to best Harden at the end of the game.

Terry is only two years removed from being the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year, and he'll have to go head-to-head with Harden, who will likely win the award this season, if Dallas wants to find a neutralizer for the unique skill set he possesses.

You heard it hear first: Look to the stats at the end of the series. Whoever plays better, Terry or Harden, will likely be traveling with their team to the next round.

Win the Turnover Battle

Oklahoma City won Round 1 of this battle within the battle. Dallas had 15 turnovers to OKC's 14, including two Dirk Nowitzki late miscues and a possession in the final minute that was one of the craziest in recent memory.

Jason Kidd must captain this offense with the precision he had during the title run. OKC can get out and finish with the best of them, and it only takes a small miscue to get Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden off and running.

Dallas wins games with late-game efficiency. If the Mavericks can't hold on to the ball with a lead late in the game, which was the case Saturday night, then they won't win this series.

If they can reverse that stat from Game 1, then they'll have a great chance to be in position to win every game of the series, much like they were as Kevin Durant's game-winner ended their chances to grab a 1-0 series lead.