OKC Thunder: Charles Barkley says the Thunder has the series in the bag

“I like Oklahoma City,” he said. “I pull for Scott Brooks and Maurice Cheeks, two old teammates. But their flaws … Those jump shots when they go deep into the playoffs are going to come back and bite them. When those jump shots don't fall, that's going to be their downfall.”

At halftime, Barkley already was handing the first-round series to the Thunder.

“Dallas can't beat them,” he said, noting he had gotten a sense of the series in watching the first two games. “

Dallas can't beat them four times.”

He noted the Mavericks weren't the same team that won the NBA championship last season.

“They miss DeShawn Stephenson and Tyson Chandler,” he said. “I told all my friends they got no chance.”

In winning the Emmy, Barkley beat out Cris Collinsworth (HBO/NBC), Jay Bilas (ESPN), Jeff Hammond (FOX) and Kirk Herbstreit (ESPN).

At halftime, analyst Kenny Smith discussed Dirk Nowitzki's altercation with Kendrick Perkins in the first quarter in which both received technical fouls.

“The playoffs are about posturing and it's about intimidation and it's about skill. You can't fall short in any of those areas if you want to win an NBA championship.”

At the time, Fox Sports Oklahoma analyst Grant Long placed a lot of the blame for the altercation on Nowitzki, whom he said was out of control. “Don't be surprised if Nowitzki is trying to get these guys riled up, trying to be the agitator and trying to get under the skin of Perkins or (Serge) Ibaka.”