While he remained on a victory in Game 4, Mark Daigneault finally changed his starting five, with Isaiah Joe in place of Josh Giddey. An option that initially paid off since OKC started the match with an 8-2 lead. But the Mavericks reacted immediately with a 9-0 to take control. Luka Doncic seems in good physical shape, and alongside him, Derrick Jones Jr. is the man of this first quarter with 10 points, including two three-point baskets. PJ Washington quickly limited by mistakes, Jason Kidd tries a shot with Jaden Hardy, who had not yet played in the series. With an unprecedented back line, the Mavericks lead 24-22 after 12 minutes.
Doncic plays conductor with two caviars for Dereck Lively II alley-oops. Hardaway and Irving connect with 3-pointers, and the Mavericks make a first break: 40 – 27. Chet Holmgren may be appreciated for his technique and his touch, Derrick Jones is untouchable. The former Bulls dunker maintains the gap, while the Mavericks defense is remarkable. At 3-points, Doncic increases the lead to 15 points! We had to wait for the awakening of Shai Gilgeous-Alexanxer and a big dunk from Jalen Williams on Daniel Gafford for OKC to get back below the 10 point difference. Except that Josh Green, on a tap, sends everyone back to the locker room with these 10 points in advance: 54 – 44.
Up to 18 points ahead!
Returning from the locker room, the Dallas defense confirmed its control over the match, and the Thunder had difficulty scoring. Luka Doncic's hand injury did not dampen the enthusiasm of his teammates, and Washington followed up with a dunk and 3-pointer in the corner to restore a 14-point gap: 65-51. Luka Doncic and Josh Green drive the point home, and it's Cason Wallace who keeps the Thunder alive, before the last quarter: 79-67. Moment chosen by Luka Doncic to kill the match. The Slovenian signs eight points in a row, and he forces Daigneault to take a time-out immediately: 89-71. This is the biggest gap of the match.
The Thunder coach finds the right words, since his players respond with a 10-0 with Lu Dort, on the pass, and at 3-points. It's Jason Kidd's turn to take a timeout, and a free throw from Gafford stops the bleeding. Better, a new 3-pointer from Washington allows us to reach the 10-point mark again. Daigneault restarts the Hack-a-Lively, but it is just as ineffective as in Game 4. Even if Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren maintain the suspense, a counter from Doncic on Gilgeous-Alexander validates the victory for the Mavericks, which impose 104-92 in this pivotal meeting.
What you must remember
– Josh Giddey out of the starting five. Struggling in this series, the Australian leader started the match on the bench. To clear the play and free up space, Mark Daigneault preferred Isaiah Joe. A choice that he confirmed at the start of the second half.
– The impact of the Gafford-Lively pair. With the withdrawal of Maxi Kleber, Kidd changed his plans, and he is banking more on position 5. By their ability to play behind the defense, but also their protection of the circle, Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively II weigh on the debates. This night, they combined 20 points, 17 rebounds and 4 blocks.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
