DALLAS, May 15 ------ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame a Dallas franchise playoff-record 13 blocks, rallying for a 100-96 victory to even their NBA Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2.
The Mavericks’ last chance to tie came with 10.1 seconds left when trailing by two, Luka Doncic had two free throws. But the Dallas superstar missed the first. Backed by one of their best defensive efforts of the season, the Mavs led by 14 early in the second half. But their offense disappeared from there, and the Thunder slowly came back.
Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort hit clutch 3-pointers late, and Jalen Williams drove for a dunk and a 94-91 lead with 1:29 remaining as Dallas players and coaches screamed for a double-dribble call. The Mavericks’ last chance to tie came with 10.1 seconds left when trailing by two, Luka Doncic had two free throws. But the Dallas superstar missed the first. Backed by one of their best defensive efforts of the season, the Mavs led by 14 early in the second half. But their offense disappeared from there, and the Thunder slowly came back.
Oklahoma City went in front for the first time since early in the game — and for good — on Holmgren’s 3 for an 89-86 lead with 3:24 remaining. P.J. Washington led Dallas in scoring again with 21 points, while Doncic had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Kyrie Irving had his second single-digit scoring game of the series with nine points. Dort’s clutch 3 came on a 3-of-10 shooting night from deep as he finished with 17 points. Holmgren had 18 points and nine rebounds.
In other games, Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell missed Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics with a left calf injury, a devastating loss that will make it even tougher for Cleveland to get back in the series. Jayson Tatum scored 33 points with LeBron James watching from a courtside seat and the Celtics beat the severely shorthanded Cavaliers 109-102 in Game 4 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Jaylen Brown added 27 for the Celtics, who can close out Cleveland with a win in Game 5 on Wednesday night at home.
Darius Garland scored 30 and Evan Mobley and Caris LeVert 19 apiece for the Cavs, who stayed connected with the Celtics and only trailed by 10 going into the fourth.
Source: inquirer.net
Editor's Note:
Here are the current standing of Semi Finals NBA Playoffs:
Eastern Conference:
Boston Celtics - 3 Cleveland Cavaliers - 1
New York Knicks - 2 Indiana Pacers - 2
Western Conference:
Oklahoma Thunder - 2 Dallas Mavericks - 2
Minnesota Timberwolves - 2 Denver Nuggets - 2