SB Nation Dallas - Mavericks vs. Thunder: Rivals play in tuneup before season starts next weekhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48887/dallas-fave.png2012-10-24T11:37:29-05:00http://dallas.sbnation.com/rss/stream/33124932012-10-24T11:37:29-05:002012-10-24T11:37:29-05:00Dallas, OKC tangle in Kansas for preseason matchup
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<p>The Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder play in Wichita, Kansas, Wednesday night in a preseason game.</p> <p>Wichita, Kan., is the host to one of the Western Conference's top rivalries Wednesday night as the <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Mavericks</a> take on the <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> in one of the final preseason tuneups before the regular season gets underway next week.</p>
<p>Dallas is playing without star <span>Dirk Nowitzki</span>, who is expected to miss at least a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.examiner.com/article/dirk-nowitzki-injury-severity-could-derail-dallas-mavericks">few weeks of action following knee surgery</a>. While that's welcome news to the rest of the Western Conference, it's a potential setback for the Mavs' season. Dallas could also be without one of its most important new faces, starting center <span>Chris Kaman</span>, who missed the Mavs' last two preseason games with a strained calf.</p>
<p>It's the final preseason tuneup for the Thunder before starting the regular season on Nov. 1 at the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">San Antonio Spurs</a>. Oklahoma City is 3-3 in the preseason after losing Tuesday night to the <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Chicago Bulls</a>. Dallas has one more preseason game left with the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/charlotte-bobcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Charlotte Bobcats</a> before starting the regular season Oct. 30 at the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Lakers</a>.</p>
<p>Fox Sports Dallas will carry the game in the Mavericks' home market. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/dallas-mavericks/2012/10/24/3548424/mavericks-thunder-2012-nba-preseason-wichitaKevin Jeffers