The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Texas to face the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on Monday.

The Thunder (14-28) enter this matchup losing eight of their last 10 games. This team was expected to have stretches like that this season and it's looking like another year at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Things like that happen when you rebuild, and it could be a while before this club battles for any sort of playoff hopes. The pieces are in play, though, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey forming one of the most dynamic backcourts in the NBA. It's up to management to get this frontcourt on par with them because this could be the worst group of big men in the league. If they can land on the numerous high draft picks they have coming, OKC could be a dangerous team in the next 5-10 years.

The Mavericks. (24-19) appeared to be in big trouble when they sat well below .500 this time last month, but they've been one of the best teams in the NBA since the calendar turned to 2021. In fact, Dallas has nine wins in their last 11 games, allowing the fewest points in the NBA in that stretch. What makes that run all the more impressive is the fact that Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis have rarely played together. Doncic was out nearly a month with an ankle issue, while KP has been stuck in COVID protocols over the last week. The good news is that both guys played together on Saturday, with the Mavs handing the Orlando Magic another blowout defeat. This is a scary duo, and many people believe the Mavs will be buyers at this year's trade deadline, which is fast approaching.

These teams played twice last season, with Dallas sweeping the season series. That gives the Mavs four wins in their last five meetings with the Thunder, dating back three years.