It starts strong with the first two points which are scored spectacularly by Derek Lively II on a tap (after his missed throws). A few moments later, it's Chet Holmgren who comes to restore order in the Texan racket by covering Derrick Jones Jr. No observation round between two teams applying for the playoffs!
But the Thunder have a difficult start in attack at 3/14 on their first shots! The rest is better for Coach Daigneault's troop who raise the bar by notably passing an 8-0 to come back to level, with the skill of Isaiah Joe and the effective entry of Cason Wallace. Despite 10 points from new dad Luka Doncic, Dallas finally trailed after the first quarter (33-27).
And the gap swells to 14 units at the start of the second, before Luka Doncic restarts his team with 3-points. But Derrick Jones may be taking off in the backline, but it's the Thunder who are racing in the lead to go up to +21! SGA revs up the engine and scores 12 points, including a 3-point stepback on Luka Doncic's nose. At the break, despite a monumental dunk from Lively, the conclusion is clear for the Mavs: -16 (72-56).
Dallas turns everything around
Halftime does not fundamentally change the situation for the Mavs who are sailing on sight, at -20! Doncic, Jones and Lively do what they can but the Thunder continue on their merry way, with in particular the old man of the house, Davis Bertans, who is frolicking and already accumulates 15 points including this insane 3-point while retreating in the corner… If Dallas attempted a return to -11, OKC is in control before the last quarter (107-84).
But the improbable happens in the last quarter! The Thunder freezes and can no longer find the target. For three, then four and even five minutes. Without a single basket! Meanwhile, Luka Doncic and Seth Curry give it their all to put together a surreal 24-0 which allows Dallas to equalize 5 minutes from the end, on a new alley oop between Doncic and Lively.
This historic series will go up to 30-0 on an interception by Luka Doncic on Chet Holmgren. Completely dropped at 111-87, the Mavs took the lead at 117-111 in an incredible scenario. But the Thunder finally reacted and scored the last 8 points of the match, with Chet Holmgren on the tap to equalize, after a 3-pointer from Isaiah Joe. To top it off, SGA steals the ball from Jones on a throw-in and OKC reduces the Mavs' huge comeback to nothing with 30 seconds remaining (126-120).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Mavs' historic 30-0. Never in the history of the NBA have we been treated to such a dynamic (the previous record was established at 29-0, between Cleveland and Milwaukee on December 6, 2009)! A real tidal wave which fell on the Thunder in the last quarter (from 87-111 to 117-111)! Powered by Luka Doncic and Seth Curry, but also Lawson and Jones, this memorable “run” woke up the Dallas public who were a little asleep. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for victory…
– The Thunder did not panic. Necessarily shaken by this 30-0, after having mastered the match from the midfield, so to speak, the young Oklahoma City players were able to calm their nerves perfectly in the “money time” to finish the job. After the rain, then, good weather. And in this case, an 8-0 concluded by SGA on the interception to win away. Despite this incredible scenario!
– A well-balanced Thunder. If it was Jalen Williams who finished as his team's top scorer with 23 points (plus 6 rebounds and 5 assists), no less than eight Thunder players finished with 11 points or more, including a double-double at 11 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks for Chet Holmgren or even 15 points at 100% shooting success (3/3 at 3-points and 6/6 at shots) for Davis Bertans, who can now join the rotation after having made a cross on a clause in his contract.
– Luka Doncic at 50 rating! Back in business after a missed match for the birth of his daughter, Luka Doncic did very well with a breathtaking stat line of 36 points, 18 assists and 15 rebounds, plus 2 blocks and 2 interceptions to climb to an extremely rare 50 rating. This, despite 7 lost balls… This is his 59th career triple double, which allows him to tie Larry Bird for 9th place in history.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
