Head coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks congratulates Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks as he comes off the courtroom within the remaining minutes of the staff’s win towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in Recreation 5 of the Western Convention Second Spherical Playoffs at Paycom Middle on Could 15, 2024 in Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma. | Photograph by Joshua Gateley / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Photographs by way of AFP
OKLAHOMA CITY— Luka Doncic stopped worrying about calls and simply performed.
It labored. He scored 31 factors in a triple-double, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 104-92 on Wednesday evening to take a 3-2 lead within the Western Convention semifinal sequence.
Doncic didn’t voice his displeasure with the officers practically as a lot as common, although he had phrases with followers a couple of instances.
“I’m simply making an attempt to play basketball, simply give attention to basketball,” he mentioned. “Generally I overlook that is the factor I really like, the factor I do. My psychological focus was simply go on the market and play basketball with a smile on my face and simply go.”
Doncic, the league’s main scorer within the common season, had struggled some within the sequence towards Oklahoma Metropolis. Enjoying by a sprained proper knee and a sore left ankle, he had averaged simply 22 factors on 39% capturing by the primary 4 video games. He made 12 of twenty-two discipline objectives in Recreation 5 and had 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his sixth profession playoff triple-double.
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“He was aggressive,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd mentioned. “He was making photographs, taking photographs. The deep 3, having the ability to get to the basket, playmaking for his bigs and likewise for the wings.”
Dallas regained the lead within the sequence after blowing a 14-point benefit and shedding 100-96 at dwelling in Recreation 4.
“We all know the final sport we performed towards them at dwelling, we let it go,” Doncic mentioned. “It was our errors and so they hit photographs.”
Derrick Jones Jr. scored a playoff career-high 19 factors and P.J. Washington Jr. added 10 factors and 10 rebounds for Dallas, which shot 52.6% from the ground. The No. 5-seeded Mavericks can advance to the Western Convention finals with a win Saturday at dwelling.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 factors for the top-seeded Thunder, however no different Oklahoma Metropolis participant scored greater than 13.
The Mavericks received Recreation 5 on the street, similar to they did within the first spherical towards the Los Angeles Clippers. Dallas held Oklahoma Metropolis to 42.5% capturing.
Coach Mark Daigneault mentioned the Thunder merely didn’t shoot effectively, however they discovered some cracks in Dallas’ protection late within the sport.
“I believed we had been type of there tonight and possibly missed a pair performs,” Daigneault mentioned.
Oklahoma Metropolis tried to jump-start its struggling offense by changing Josh Giddey with Isaiah Joe within the beginning lineup. Giddey didn’t begin for the primary time in 229 mixed common season and postseason video games.
Dallas led by 15 within the second quarter and took a 54-44 edge into halftime. Jones scored 15 factors earlier than the break.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 14 factors within the third quarter, however Dallas nonetheless led 79-67.
Dallas pushed its lead out to 18 factors early within the fourth quarter earlier than the Thunder surged. A 3-pointer by Gilgeous-Alexander lower the deficit to 89-79 with slightly below seven minutes remaining and compelled Dallas to name a timeout. The Thunder by no means acquired nearer than seven factors the remainder of the way in which.
Now, the Mavericks are near advancing.
“We’ve acquired yet one more to win out of two video games,” Doncic mentioned. “That’s it. We’re up 3-2, however that’s nonetheless nothing. We’ve acquired to complete it and go together with the identical mentality at dwelling.”
The Thunder, one of many youngest groups within the league, face elimination for the primary time.
“Our temper received’t change, our mentality received’t change,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “It’s one sport at a time. We needed to win this sport tonight as badly as we’re going to need to win the following sport.”
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