The Oklahoma City Thunder invade the Lone Star State tonight for game one of their Western Conference Final against the Dallas Mavericks at 9 p.m. eastern time.
Dallas has not played since completing a sweep of the two-time champion Los Angeles Lakers on May 8, and thus the Mavericks will be well rested, But could that translate into some rust against the Thunder, who have just come off of a hard-fought seven game series with the Memphis Grizzlies?
We will find out beginning tonight.
Here is a link via NBA.com to a complete preview of this game between two teams separated only by Interstate 35, and which are closer together than are Cleveland and Cincinnati, to give some perspective to just how special this series could end up being.