How will Mavericks respond after ugly Game 1 loss to OKC?
Though so much went right for the Oklahoma City Thunder and wrong for the Dallas Mavericks in the opener, both clubs feel that won't mean much once Game 2 tips off.
There will be some negative carryover, however, for the Mavericks' already anemic offense now that J.J. Barea has been ruled out after aggravating his groin injury.
The host Thunder will try to come out with the same sense of urgency, particularly on the defensive end, Monday night as they try to take a 2-0 lead.
Oklahoma City got out to a fast start Saturday by scoring the first nine points and building a 59-33 halftime advantage en route to a 108-70 rout that marked their most lopsided postseason victory since moving from Seattle in 2008-09.
The Thunder's two All-Stars led the way before sitting out the entire fourth quarter. Russell Westbrook finished 24 points, 11 assists and five rebounds and Kevin Durant added 23 points, five assists and five boards.
The Mavericks haven't had much success defending Oklahoma City all season, allowing an average of 111.6 points on 48.4 percent shooting while dropping five meetings.
"We didn't want to ease into the game," said Durant, who finished third during the regular season with 28.2 points per game. "We wanted to be the aggressor."
Serge Ibaka had 17 points, nine rebounds and three blocks and Enes Kanter contributed 16 points and 13 boards. Ibaka has been particularly tough on Dallas at home, averaging 17.6 points on 60.4 percent shooting with 11.5 rebounds in his last eight meetings.
Oklahoma City dominated the glass 56-33 while limiting Dallas to 29.8 percent shooting. It was not only the fewest points the franchise has ever allowed in a postseason contest, but also the fewest the Mavericks have ever scored in the playoffs.
"Our defense was good and they're a terrific shooting team," Thunder coach Billy Donovan told the team's official website. "It's a seven game series and this is one game."
Dirk Nowitzki finished with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting, but no other Dallas player scored more than eight and the rest of team shot a combined 18 for 69 (26 percent).
"I guess the only positive I take out if this - it's only one game. If you lose by two or by 50, in the playoffs, it's only one game," Nowitzki said. "We've got another crack to steal one on Monday. We've got to play harder, we've got to play better."
The Mavericks, however, won't have Barea after he sat out the second half with a groin strain. The guard had averaged 22.3 points while hitting 21 of 42 from 3-point range over a seven-game stretch before the injury limited his play over the past five games.
The backcourt could be further thinned with fellow starting guard Deron Williams doubtful with pain in his pelvis and groin. He finished with two points on 1-of-9 shooting in just under 22 minutes.
David Lee also could miss his second straight game with a plantar fascia injury, while third-leading scorer Chandler Parsons is already out following knee surgery.
It should be interesting to see who coach Rick Carlisle decides to go with at center. Rookie Salah Mejri got the nod in the opener, but finished with one point and four rebounds in 15 minutes. Zaza Pachulia scored five on 1-of-6 shooting with six boards off the bench.
"We were not the team that we've been the past two and half weeks," Carlisle told the team's official website. "And I take a great deal of responsibility for that, so I've got to do a better job getting them ready for Game 2."
The Thunder hope Nick Collison will play after sitting out the second half on Saturday because of a chest contusion. They're experienced enough to understand that one outstanding postseason performance doesn't necessarily carry over to the next game.
The Mavericks are counting on that.
"Each game is different, and we've got to be ready for a different team," Durant said.
