How OKC Thunder, Dallas Mavericks match up in NBA playoffs, Western Conference semifinals

Dallas. Oklahoma City. Two MVP finalists. Two wildly talented second-options. With the way the teams trended, their destinies were seemingly always meant to collide in the postseason.

This time isn't for fuel for the MVP debate.

This time is for a shot at the Western Conference Finals.

Here's the matchup breakdown between the top-seeded Thunder and fifth-seeded Mavericks. Game 1 of the series is set for 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in Paycom Center.

More: How OKC Thunder is preparing to face a 'really good' Dallas Mavericks team in NBA playoffs

POINT GUARD

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Luka Doncic

There might be a head-to-head with more layers this postseason. Both Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic are two of the league’s most consistently explosive scorers. SGA lives at the rim, and Doncic enjoys circus-level shotmaking.

Both will require some form of an army to defend.

Gilgeous-Alexander has seen every version of the kitchen sink this season. Double and triple teams, collective walls. Last round, he was picked up by Herb Jones with a secondary defender nearby and the remainder of the lineup’s vision glued to him. Dallas has mostly pit Derrick Jones Jr. on SGA and has, at times, doubled him higher up the floor than almost any team in attempts to get the ball out of his hands.

That’ll likely mean relying on Jalen Williams more. That portends important minutes for Isaiah Joe. That begs Chet Holmgren and Josh Giddey to execute as shooters. That means SGA will need to weaponize the Mavericks’ aggressiveness.

Doncic has delivered some wildly productive games against the 36 points, 15 rebounds and 18 assists in a near comeback back in December. But OKC’s sample versus Dallas is among the least reliable, with at least one of Doncic and Kyrie Irving missing in significant games.

In the first round, Doncic averaged just 29.8, 8.8 rebounds and 9.5 assists while shooting a mere 40.5% from the field and 23.9% from 3. Between the pick-and-roll threats of Irving and Doncic, how effective Lu Dort is defending Doncic will matter.

And without Herb Jones and crew defending SGA, the All-NBA guard could expect more windows than he did the previous round.

More: 2018 NBA Re-Draft: Would Luka Doncic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go No. 1?

SHOOTING GUARD

Lu Dort vs. Kyrie Irving

Few teams have a secondary shotmaker like Irving — maybe none. Few teams employ a defensive hound like Dort.

Dort will likely almost exclusively defend Doncic outside of rotations and possible forced switches, which makes Irving that much more dangerous. And even with Dort’s defensive prowess, Doncic is as unbearable an assignment as there is. Dort defended him on 62.7 partial possessions through two games. Doncic went 8 for 14 and committed five turnovers. They’ll tango a ton, with Doncic trying to draw fouls and Dort trying to make him as inefficient as possible. It’s worth noting that Doncic has been dealing with knee issues.

While Jalen Williams has proved a capable defender, Irving has elevated to a tricky level. In the first round, he averaged 26.5 points and 4.7 assists on 51.4% from the field and a scorching 44.9% from 3 (8.2 attempts). He was the necessary pop with Doncic’s condition, a closer and a game changer — which was the case down the stretch of the season, too. Irving changes coverages, and he makes it tougher to prioritize as a defense. The rotation OKC chooses to wear him down and how much it prioritizes his abilities will come into play.

More: Thunder vs Mavericks in NBA playoffs: Why OKC will win West semifinals and why it won't

SMALL FORWARD

Josh Giddey vs. Derrick Jones Jr.

Giddey lived in an alternate universe when these teams played in February, the only game with considerable health. It was post-deadline, with an improved Dallas squad aggressively abandoning Giddey on the perimeter. Dallas’ early hot shooting gave OKC fits. But Giddey’s ineffectiveness buried it. He was 3 for 14 then, helping strip the Thunder of its opportunities to come back.

But things have changed since. OKC has maximized the alternate ways it’s tried to use the third-year wing. Giddey’s found confidence and efficiency since. In the final three games of the New Orleans series, Giddey averaged 16 points while shooting 56.3% from deep (5.3 attempts). Dallas will almost surely resort to old tricks, leaving Giddey to execute the way he has of late.

Jones Jr. will likely be tasked with defending Gilgeous-Alexander’s frustrating change of pace. He probably isn’t the irritant that Herb Jones is, but he’ll be a notable body, especially when more will fly toward SGA. He joins Giddey as a guy on the perimeter who OKC will likely choose to leave open at times. He isn’t exactly Herb Jones in regards to efficiency either, though he’s shot a combined 9 for 16 from 3 against OKC this season.

More: Mussatto: Why Thunder vs Mavericks is the NBA rivalry we have longed for

POWER FORWARD

Jalen Williams vs. PJ Washington

With Gilgeous-Alexander’s usage rate and effectiveness in question, it’ll likely leave Williams to take over games. He’s proved capable; He’s averaged 19.1 points this season, and scored at least 23 in two of the meaningful games versus Dallas this season.

He’s enjoyed stellar 3-point efficiency, finished through contact and provided headaches off the dribble — all necessary components to compete with Dallas. With the versatile challenges he brings, it’s unclear who the Mavericks will appoint to effectively defend him.

Washington is meant to provide some shooting gravity and defensive versatility as a mobile frontcourt player. In the first round, though, he averaged 10.8 points while shooting just 41.8% from the field. Down another versatile frontcourt player in Maxi Kleber, Washington will have some weight on his shoulders.

More: Why OKC Thunder players 'show love' to Bally Sports sideline reporter Nick Gallo

CENTER

Chet Holmgren vs. Daniel Gafford/Dereck Lively II

With the loss of Kleber, Dallas will be forced to lean into the Gafford and Lively rotation. It’s a sufficient, revolving door of roll men and drop bigs that could prove effective, though Kleber leaves them with little choice otherwise.

Lively and Gafford have each been threatening as rollers. Synergy grades Gafford as “very good,” while Lively is graded as excellent. Both have contributed to the Mavs’ success at the rim against OKC this season.

Holmgren, as versatile and dynamic of a 7-foot marvel as he’s been all season, hasn’t quite popped against Dallas. He’s taken 10 shots or less in each of his games versus Dallas this season, shooting no more than three 3s in each game. How assertive he is will determine how open the floor might be for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder all series. He’ll have his hands full defending the rim.

More: OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander calls having son, Ares, 'best thing in the world'

Game 1: Thunder vs. Mavericks

TIPOFF: 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Paycom Center (TNT)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks second-round NBA playoffs matchups