Realtime Sports

The Dallas Mavericks took down the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the conference semifinals, and they were rewarded with a lengthy layoff while they waited for the results from the other Western Conference series. Their break will end on Tuesday when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

The Oklahoma City Thunder needed seven games to get past the Memphis Grizzlies in the conference semifinals. One of the games featured three overtimes and they had to play an extra period in another. The lengthy series and extra periods would seemingly be a deterrent to most teams, but not so much for the Thunder.

“We have a young, energetic, athletic team that loves to play and wants to play every night,” coach Scott Brooks said. “We’re excited about being in the position that we are in. We’re not ‘just happy to be here’ and just ‘whatever happens happens.”

The Dallas Mavericks are back in the conference finals for the first time since advancing to the NBA finals in 2006. The Mavericks swept the Lakers in the first round thanks to strong defense and numerous scoring options. And of course, there was the solid play of Dirk Nowitzki. The seven-footer is averaging 26.5 points per game on 49.7 percent shooting in the playoffs and has been crucial to the Mavs’ success throughout the season.

Oklahoma City has its own superstar in Kevin Durant. Durant led the league in scoring in the regular season and has continued that trend into the playoffs. He had 39 points on 13-for25 shooting in Game 7 of the Thunder’s Game 7 win against the Grizzlies.

Shawn Marion will be tasked with guarding Durant, and he will likely get help from Nowitzki and others. Serge Ibaka will guard Nowitzki, with Kendrick Perkins, Nazr Mohammed, Durant, Nick Collison and James Harden among those that will help out.