The Dallas Mavericks have secured their spot in the Western Conference Finals of the NBA playoffs by defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-116. With this win, the Mavericks clinched the series 4-2, marking their second appearance in the conference finals in the last three seasons. The game, held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, witnessed a nail-biting finish in front of 20,555 spectators.
Decisive Moments
Trailing by 17 points early in the third quarter and by nine in the fourth, the Mavericks mounted a spectacular comeback. P.J. Washington scored the winning points with 2.5 seconds remaining, making two free throws and intentionally missing the third, leaving the Thunder without a chance to call a timeout. Jalen Williams’ desperate last-second shot failed to change the outcome.
The hero of the night was Slovenian star Luka Doncic, who recorded a triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Doncic, the league’s leading scorer in the regular season with an average of 33.9 points per game, was impressive, making nine of 15 field goals, four of six three-pointers, and all seven free throws. He received strong support from Kyrie Irving and Derrick Jones Jr., who each added 22 points, while reserve Dereck Lively II contributed 12 points and 15 rebounds.
Overcoming Adversity
„Being down by 17 points in an elimination game is not where you want to be, but that’s the situation we put ourselves in. We had to respond the way we have all season,” said Irving, who will be playing in the conference finals for the first time since 2017 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Thunder’s Effort Falls Short
The Thunder were led by Canadian standout Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored a career-high 36 points in the playoffs and grabbed eight rebounds. Williams had 22 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, while Chet Holmgren contributed 21 points.
Looking Ahead
The Mavericks will face either the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, or the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. The series between the Nuggets and Timberwolves is tied 3-3, with the decisive game scheduled for Sunday night at the champions’ arena. The Mavericks are poised and ready for their next challenge, aiming for a spot in the NBA Finals.
