Luka Doncic Guides Mavericks to Victory, Tying Series with Thunder
Luka Doncic showcased his resilience with a stellar performance, tallying 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, propelling the Dallas Mavericks to a 119-110 triumph over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. This win levels the Western Conference semifinals at one win apiece.
Reflecting on his performance, Doncic remarked, “I think that was one of the hardest games I've had to play. I'm battling out there trying to do my best to help the team win.”
In Game 1, the Thunder managed to limit Doncic to 19 points on 6-for-19 shooting. However, he bounced back emphatically in Game 2, converting 11 of 21 field goals.
Contributing significantly alongside Doncic was P.J. Washington, who delivered 29 points and 11 rebounds, exceeding his regular-season average of 12.9 points. Kyrie Irving provided valuable support with nine points and 11 assists for the No. 5-seeded Mavericks, who are set to host Game 3 on Saturday.
On the opposing side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge for the Thunder with an impressive stat line of 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Jalen Williams contributed 20 points. Despite their efforts, this marks the Thunder's first postseason loss, allowing more than 100 points for the first time in six playoff games.
Dallas seized an early lead, with Doncic scoring eight points in the first three minutes, establishing a 13-2 advantage. Although the Thunder managed to cut into the lead, Dallas maintained control, leading 68-62 at halftime.
Despite Oklahoma City's efforts to rally, Dallas extended their lead in the third quarter, with Doncic orchestrating plays effectively. A pivotal moment came when Doncic connected with Derrick Jones Jr. for a dunk, pushing the Mavericks' lead to 99-85 late in the third quarter.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged the Mavericks' performance, stating, “We've got a really good opponent that played really well tonight. We tried to scrap back into it. I thought our effort was really good tonight. I thought we tried to gear it up a couple different times. I thought where we left something to be desired was execution.”
The series is now poised for an intense Game 3, as both teams aim to gain the upper hand in the Western Conference semifinals.
