Dallas is 2-2, eighth in the West and one game behind Minnesota for sixth, with four games and no back-to-backs ahead. The Thunder arrive 4-0 and badly thinned, but the Spurs trip is the game that measures this team.
Oklahoma City Without Its Core
Tonight on ESPN, Oklahoma City comes in 4-0 with a 10.3 net rating and a 102.0 defensive rating. Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber and Otega Oweh are all out. Ajay Mitchell, at 16.0 points a game, has an ankle issue and has not been ruled out. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still averaging 27.3 points, and he is the whole assignment. Both teams have had one day of rest. Mavs Moneyball framed the game as Dallas hosting an injury-riddled Oklahoma City. That is the opening, and Cooper Flagg's 25.0 points and 6.3 assists count for more against a short rotation than against a full one.
The Week Bends Toward San Antonio
After the Thunder, Dallas stays home: Houston on Oct. 30 in an Emirates NBA Cup game, then Sacramento on Nov. 2, with at least a day off before each. Then comes Nov. 4 at San Antonio on ESPN, the only road game of the week. The Spurs won 122-106 in Dallas on Oct. 24, and they are the opponent that matters most. It is a division rival, a rematch and the clearest test of whether a -3.2 net rating is a starting point or a ceiling. Dallas sits one game out of sixth and half a game clear of 11th, so every result this week moves the seed.
Cisse Holds the Middle
Lively's right foot keeps him out until a projected Nov. 2 return against the Kings, so Moussa Cisse keeps soaking up the frontcourt minutes. He is at 26.0 minutes a night over the last five games, up 13 a night across the last three with a teammate out. That is a starter's workload on a small sample. Sergio de Larrea, who scored 21 against the Spurs, is out with a right knee and targeted for Oct. 30. Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic and Caleb Martin are all out, with tonight as their projected return, and The Smoking Cuban reported that Aldama's latest update brings him closer to a return. Kyrie Irving's knee and Naji Marshall's illness keep both on the report without ruling them out. If Irving and his 19.0 points sit, Flagg's usage climbs again.
Is Kyrie Irving playing against the Thunder?
Irving is on the injury report with a knee issue and has not been ruled out for the Oct. 28 game. His status is still open heading into tipoff.
When will Lively return for the Mavericks?
Lively is out with a right foot issue. His projected return is Nov. 2 at home against the Kings.
