The Mavericks will be playing for the first time in nine days. The Thunder are coming off a seven-game series that included a triple-overtime and another that needed a single overtime.

Game 1 is Tuesday night in Dallas.

Whoever wins the series advances to the NBA finals. This will be only the second time since 1998 that someone other than the Lakers or Spurs will represent the West in the title round.

Dallas won the season series 2-1, but both teams have changed a lot since the last meeting, in early January.
 

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves, perennial lottery losers, have the best odds of finally claiming that elusive No. 1 pick as the NBA holds its draft lottery Tuesday in Secaucus, New Jersey.

The lucky team earns the right to make the first pick in next month’s draft.

The Timberwolves have a 25 percent chance of winning, thanks to their league-worst 17-65 record.