Tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET the Oklahoma City Thunder (52-18) will take on the Dallas Mavericks (42-29) in a game that could go a long way toward Dallas' postseason dreams. Watch the game on TNT or live stream it by clicking this link. Thunder fans can find the game on WWLS 98.1, while Mavs fans can tune in to the radio broadcast on Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket.
On March 16 the Mavericks tore up the Thunder, delivering their worst beating since 2011. Since then Oklahoma City has reeled off four straight victories, including a big performance on Sunday that was Caron Butler's OKC coming out party.
Butler came out and nailed 10-of-19 shots to finish with 23 points, finally resembling the veteran shooter meant to space the floor for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
"You have a system that's functioning," Butler said. "The only thing guys got to do is plug into that system and play a certain style and way and give a certain type of effort, and things just continue to move forward."
Durant was his usual self as well, netting 27 points and marking the 35th straight game in which he scored 25 or more points.
The Mavericks have lost two of their last three games, and sit tied for the No. 8 seed in the West with the Phoenix Suns. "This is not the time to panic," said Monta Ellis, who scored 32 points in Dallas' most recent loss on Sunday to Brooklyn. "We still have four more home games. We are going to try to get these four."
It's unclear if point guard Westbrook will suit up for tonight's matchup, having rested his knee against Denver in Butler's big game, but the Mavs should hope he sits-he's averaging more than 26 points per game against them in his last seven.
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