Injuries will be what holds the Oklahoma City Thunder back at this point in the season. Still waiting on the return of Kevin Durant, the Thunder are officially without Serge Ibaka who will undergo knee surgery per ESPN.com. At this point, Russell Westbrook is left to continue putting the team on his back as the triple-doubles continue to come. He will once again put his hot streak on the line as the Thunder prepare to face the Dallas Mavericks with Western Conference playoff spots on the line.
While the Thunder are benefitting from great play from Westbrook, losing another player could hurt the bigger picture. Ibaka has been experiencing knee soreness, missing the last two games, and will now undergo surgery that makes his status unknown for the rest of the year. That injury is paired with the continued absence of Durant as fans remain hopeful that does not last for long.
Oklahoma City is currently tied for eighth place in the Western Conference with the New Orleans Pelicans. The team cannot afford anymore exits of players as they wait for Durant to come back. In the meantime, Westbrook is holding it together putting up six triple-doubles in his last nine games while averaging 34.4 points, 11.3 rebounds and 10.1 assists. He put up another against the Chicago Bulls as the team edged out the 109-100 win.
Now the Thunder prepare to play the Dallas Mavericks who are also battling for playoff position. Westbrook put up 34 points, five rebounds and 100 assists against the team mid-way through February. In the matchup before that Chandler Parsons and Dirk Nowitzki combined for 56 points in the win. However, Dallas is struggling at the moment. Prior to Fridays win over the Los Angeles Clippers, the Mavericks had lost five of seven overall. In the win against the Clippers, Parsons put up 22 points while the team shot 60.7 percent overall.
The Mavericks need a big win and this would certainly do it. The team was blown out by the Cleveland Cavaliers at home, so getting the defeat over the Thunder would help. Dallas is completely healthy compared to Oklahoma City which could be the x-factor.
Watch Thunder vs. Mavericks live stream, click here.
