Qualifying ball for Mavericks in the event of victory in this Game 6 and, in front of their audience, they will have suffered for more than half-time, before coming back 17 points behind and signing a comeback of madness (117-116) to eliminate the Thunder ! Thanks to two free throws from PJ Washington 2.5 seconds from the end.
Another triple-double (29 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists), his third in a row, Luka Doncic showed the way to Dallasreceiving help from Kyrie Irving (22 points), Derrick Jones Jr. (22 points) and Derek Lively II (12 points, 15 rebounds) to push back the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (36 points, 8 assists), Jalen Williams (22 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists) and others Chet Holmgren on the side ofOklahoma City.
Great departure for OKC…
The start of the match turned to the Thunder's advantage, driven by Luguentz Dort's 3-point successes and Texan turnovers, but the Mavericks held on, again relying on the winning baskets of Luka Doncic. Until Shai Gilgeous-Alexander then helped OKC finish the period better, to confirm the feeling of this first quarter (30-23).
Launched, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to pull Oklahoma City up, all aggressively, and the gap increases to +10. It was then that Luka Doncic decided to respond: his points and passes brought Dallas back into contact, and squarely ahead in the score. Undisturbed, the “SGA” teammates then passed a… 24-6 to those of Doncic to finish the half with a bang! The break is made (64-48) and the effort was collective (Isaiah Joe, Jalen and Jaylin Williams, Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace and Gilgeous-Alexander of course), leaving the American Airlines Center speechless.
…but Dallas finishes stronger
The break, however, allows the Mavericks to clear their heads. Derrick Jones Jr. fuels, strangely, the brand on the Texan side and it is ultimately Kyrie Irving and especially Luka Doncic who insist on getting theirs back together. Efforts which are not in vain, because like Cason Wallace, the Thunder thwart and break their teeth on the Texan defense. At the same time, the activity of Derek Lively II under the circle is vital for Jason Kidd's men, cooled by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander but still alive (90-83).
With the contribution of the Doncic – Irving – Jones Jr. – Lively II quartet, Dallas has found the winning formula and this allows the gap to be further reduced. A gap which ends up disappearing, unsurprisingly, as OKC finds itself paralyzed by the stakes in a boiling room and therefore galvanizing for the locals. Especially since PJ Washington wakes up, at 3-points, to support Derek Lively II in the paint. And despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, it is this same Washington who, with 2.5 seconds remaining, obtains the winning free throws, for a 2/3 on the line which Jalen Williams will not answer and which sends the Mavs in the conference final (117-116)!
TO REMEMBER
– Dallas, like in 2022. Two years after their last conference final, lost to the future champions Warriors, the Mavericks are back at this stage of the competition and are now waiting to know who from the Nuggets or the Wolves will join them in the next round. If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hurt them (but offered the free throws for the win), the Mavericks were able to rely on a gala collective, carried by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving of course, as well as the astonishing Derrick Jones Jr. and Derek Lively II, who changed the course of the game in the second half with their points and rebounds. Great teamwork.
– Cruel end for OKC. Firmly in control at the break, thanks to this generally controlled first half, the Thunder players ended up cracking over time, letting Dereck Lively II's Mavericks massacre them in the paint, on the rebound. Physically, Mark Daigneault's men exploded in mid-air and Chet Holmgren was unable to limit the damage. The defeat is frustrating, but this team has a future and this elimination in the second round will not fail to benefit this group, inexperienced a month ago and which we now risk finding permanently in the playoffs, at future.
– Kyrie Irving, received 14/14. In his career, Kyrie Irving has still not lost a match at the end of which he had the possibility of concluding a series of playoffs (a “closeout game”). With the qualification of the Mavericks, the leader now has a record of 14 victories in 14 matches in this type of situation!
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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.
