PREVIEW: The Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Dallas Mavericks in a rematch of last week's game between these two teams. Both sides enter this matchup inside the Paycom Center coming off back-to-back contests. Each team is dealing with plenty of injuries that will define the storyline heading into tipoff. These squads clearly do not like each other after last year's playoff series, and this rivalry has transcended seasons, players, and matchups. The Thunder have seen Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turn in a career-high 54 points against Utah less than 24 hours ago. The superstar missed the last meeting between these two teams but should be able to swing the difference in this contest. With no Luka Doncic and no Dereck Lively II, the Mavericks will rely heavily on role players inside the Paycom Center. Both rosters are decimated by injury, with Oklahoma City missing Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, and others, while Dallas is without Doncic, Thompson, and multiple key contributors.