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Mavericks-Thunder Preview

Spurned by DeAndre Jordan and all the other top free agents this offseason, the Dallas Mavericks were an afterthought in the deep Western Conference.

Kevin Durant's return made the Oklahoma City Thunder a popular pick to win it.

Yet it's Dallas developing the chemistry of a title contender as Oklahoma City stumbles while playing through Durant's latest injury.

The reigning champion Warriors are the only team hotter than the Mavericks, who visit the Thunder on Sunday night going for their longest winning streak since the season in which they won the title. Achieving that feat would surely be made easier if Durant is still unable to go.

There's a chance the former MVP will be back in action after missing the past five games. He was originally expected to miss 7-to-10 days after straining his left hamstring Nov. 10 in a win at Washington.

Oklahoma City is 2-3 since losing Durant, with the only victories coming against each conference's worst team - winless Philadelphia and a New Orleans squad missing Anthony Davis.

"I think you gotta see the big picture, and realize it's tough to win especially when you've got your best player out," forward Nick Collison said after Friday's 93-90 home loss to New York. "... Really all you can do is control your effort and your concentration, and try to avoid other things that come in and distract you from doing that."

The Mavericks are no longer dealing with the distraction of questions about free-agent stars like Jordan, who again chose not to join them. Just enjoying playing together, according to offseason acquisitions Deron Williams and Zaza Pachulia, has keyed Dallas (9-4) getting hot.

"I'm having fun right now, being a part of this team," Williams told the team's official website. "You know, we've talked about it a lot, but this is a great group of guys that we have in this locker room. It sounds cliché, but it's the truth. We all just enjoy each other, we all like each other and love playing for each other."

Williams set or tied season highs with 23 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals in Friday's 102-93 win over Utah.

It was the Mavericks' sixth consecutive victory - only Golden State is riding a longer win streak with its 14-0 start. Dallas hasn't had a longer one since having three win streaks of seven or more during its 2010-11 championship season.

"It's so much fun to play with these guys," Pachulia said. "Guys that we have in this locker room really know how to play, and they're unselfish guys. I definitely enjoy it."

Pachulia had 15 points and 12 rebounds Friday, and the Mavs improved to 6-1 when he gets a double-double.

As for 37-year-old Dirk Nowitzki, he's playing efficient basketball with a slightly diminished role. His averages of 13.2 field-goal attempts and 28.9 minutes are his lowest since his rookie season, but he's shooting a career-best 53.2 percent after hitting 17 of 26 in the last two games.

Dallas can further prove it is for real with a stretch of three road games in four nights, including stops in Memphis and San Antonio. The Mavs are 5-2 away from home.

"We've got to play with the same defensive energy and try to execute the game plan, as the opponents get tougher," Nowitzki said. "... If we run back and talk defensively and rebound with them, we've got a shot against anybody."

The Mavs have limited opponents to 40.5 percent from the field during their win streak.

The Thunder are shooting 41.9 percent in five games without Durant. Russell Westbrook is 11 for 37 from 3-point range in that span.

Oklahoma City's lone win in four meetings in 2014-15 was the only one in which Durant played. That Feb. 19 game turned out to be his last of the season due to a foot injury.

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