(AP) - Preview capsule of the Western Conference semifinals between the OKC Thunder and Dallas Mavericks starting on Tuesday:
No. 1 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (57-25, 4-0) vs. No. 5 DALLAS MAVERICKS (50-32, 4-2)
Season series: Thunder, 3-1.
Story line: After an impressive first playoff series together for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and the rest of their young core ended in a sweep of New Orleans, the top-seeded Thunder should get a tougher test against the Mavericks. Dallas won 16 of its final 20 games in the regular season, then knocked out the Los Angeles Clippers in six games.
Key matchup: Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Luka Doncic. The NBA’s No. 1 and No. 3 scorers were perhaps the top two guards in the league during the regular season. Doncic averaged 33.9 points, with Gilgeous-Alexander at 30.1. Both do far more than just score. Alexander was second in the league with 2.0 steals per game, and Doncic was second with 9.8 assists while also grabbing 9.2 rebounds per game.
Numbers of note: Dallas had a 30-0 run against Oklahoma City in the first matchup this season — and lost the game. The Thunder recovered to win 126-120 on Dec. 2. Oklahoma City also scored 126 in another matchup and 135 on the final day of the regular season, while Dallas rang up 146 points in its lone victory. ... Oklahoma City allowed a league-low 89.5 points in the first round. ... Irving shot 23 for 37 (62.2%) in two games against Oklahoma City. He averaged 30.5 points and Doncic scored 34 per game in two appearances against the Thunder. ... Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 per game vs. Dallas.
Prediction: Doncic and Irving are rolling and the Mavericks gave them quality help up front during the season with the acquisitions of P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. It pays off now with an upset. Mavericks in 6.
===
Not mentioned in the report is the shoulder injury sustained by Maxi Kleber which could force him to miss the rest of the playoffs. He’s been an important contributor off the bench for the Mavs.