Oklahoma City Thunder take on Dallas Mavericks on Monday

OKLAHOMA CITY AT DALLAS

When: Monday at 5:30 p.m. PST.

TV: NBA TV.

Update: The schedule makers must have really wanted to find out in the season’s first nine days if the Thunder is ready to lower the boom on the NBA’s defending champions. Oklahoma City prevailed, 104-102, on Thursday in the first meeting between the presumed Western Conference powers when Kevin Durant made a three-pointer at the buzzer to beat the visiting Mavericks. Now the teams will meet again four days later, giving Dallas a chance to pick up the pace following an abysmally slow start. The Mavericks hardly looked title worthy in blowout losses to Miami and Denver, desperately missing the departed Tyson Chandler and Jose Barea. And new acquisition Lamar Odom has been more like a net loss, averaging 4.7 points while shooting 14.8% in his first three games.