Thunder Go to Dallas, Trip Gimpy Mavs

The Oklahoma City Thunder took advantage of an injury ravaged Dallas Mavericks squad on Thursday night, winning 99-95. The Mavs were without Dirk Nowitzki, Caron Butler and Roddy Beaubois — arguably the team’s three most explosive players. Kevin Durant did most of the damage, scoring 28 points on 11-for-22 shooting from the field.

Said Durant: “They didn’t have Dirk, their best player, or Caron, but they’re a fast team and players stepped up. So you had to be locked in from the beginning and not take this team for granted, and I think we did a good job of that.”

The Thunder also got 15 points and nine assists from Russell Westbrook, while the Mavs were led by Shawn Marion’s 25 points.

“We had a team on their heels in the first half,” said Marion of the Mavs having a ten-point first half lead, “and didn’t put them away.”

For the Mavs, Nowitzki is considered day-to-day with a knee injury and Beaubois is expected back soon. Butler, however, is out for the season with a knee injury.

Kevin Durant - Oklahoma City Thunder (Image: TSN.ca)