Last Year, Champions. This Year, in Trouble The first two games between the Mavericks and Thunder were emotional, very close affairs. The Thunder won both on home court, but the Mavericks still felt strong hope because the series was shifting to Dallas. The defending N.B.A. champion Mavericks are now in deep trouble, after the Thunder crushed them, 95-79, in American Airlines Center on Thursday. Game 4 is Saturday in Dallas, with the Thunder aiming to become the first team to sweep the Mavericks out the playoffs. Thunder star Kevin Durant was unstoppable, scoring 31 points, off 11-for-15 shooting, and controlled play. Durant had 21 points in the first half, giving an early indication that he was hotter than in the series" first two games. Durant's cumulative shooting was 15-for-44 coming into Game 3. "Kevin hasn't shot the ball well, but he's taken good shots," Thunder Coach Scott Brooks told The Oklahoman newspaper. He hasn't forced shots and he got to the free throw line last game. But it was good to have a good start. He's earned it. He works as hard as anybody I've ever been around. You knew he was going to have a good shooting game sooner or later. The Mavericks looked slow and passive, committing 16 turnovers. They also couldn't find a way through the Thunder's tough defense, shooting 34 percent from the field. "Our goal was to come out swinging, create energy and get the building going," Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki told NBA.com. ..."It wasn't the way we wanted to start the game. Give them credit. They threw a heck of a game at us. ... We picked a bad time to put a stinker out there. Mavericks Coach Rick Carlisle said on Friday that his team needs to be more disciplined and engaged. And the same directive goes for Carlisle too, as he lost his cool against the referees in Game 3 and received a technical foul. The Mavericks were whistled for four technicals: Carlisle, Delonte West, Brian Cardinal and Nowitzki. Carlisle's penalized screaming fit came in the first quarter, in the midst of the Thunder taking control. The Mavericks had just gone down 20-11, thanks to an iffy-looking tip-in by Kendrick Perkins. Carlisle thought there was goaltending and no basket. "There's distractions you've got to avoid and that includes me," Carlisle told ESPNDallas.com. Even if they miss three calls in one possession, I can't get a technical. I got to have more self-control.