OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Luka Doncic often limped around the court, playing with a sprained right knee and a bleeding left knee.
His shooting stroke was unaffected. He had 29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to help the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-110 on Thursday night and win a game in the Western Conference semifinals.
“I think that game was one of the hardest games I've had to play,” Doncic said. “I'm doing my best to help the team win.”
The Thunder held Doncic to 19 points on 6-of-19 shooting in Game 1. He made 11 of 21 field goals in Game 2. During the match, he frequently had conversations with officials. It angered Thunder fans, who booed. Directed the chant in his and his way.
“It’s great for me, I love it,” he said.
PJ Washington added 29 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks, making 7 of 11 3-pointers. He averaged 12.9 points during the regular season.
“I thought P.J. set the tone,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “We ran him through the post a little bit and I think that sparked him.'' He was huge for us tonight. ”
Kyrie Irving added nine points and 11 assists for the fifth-seeded Mavericks, who take home court advantage from the top-seeded Thunder heading into Saturday's Game 3.
Doncic expects the Thunder to be ready.
“They have great players,” Doncic said. “They have great chemistry and a great team. And it's going to be tough. It's going to be a fight to the end. So, hats off to Oklahoma (City), but this game… It was a big time for us to win.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 33 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for the Thunder, and Jaylen Williams added 20 points. The Thunder lost for the first time in the postseason and allowed over 100 points for the first time in six playoff games.
The Mavericks made a frantic play, just as they did in the first round, when they defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 2 and stole their home court.
“I think it was a must-win game for us,” Washington said. “And I feel like those games are where we do our best.”
Doncic made his first three shots and scored eight points in the first three minutes, giving Dallas a 13-2 lead. The Thunder took control in the first quarter, scoring 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Oklahoma City responded from under Dallas' goal with 1.4 seconds left. Jaylin Williams threw a long ball to Chet Holmgren, who caught the ball while being protected by two Mavericks in traffic, turned and hit a long 2-point jumper to cut Dallas' lead to 36-32. Ta.
Dallas led 68-62 at halftime. Before intermission, both teams had made 25 of 47 shots, with Dallas making 12 3s and Oklahoma City making six.
Oklahoma City tied the score at 70 two minutes into the second half on Gilgeous-Alexander's baseline jumper. Aaron Wiggins, who started the second half in place of Josh Guidy, scored from close range to give the Thunder a 72-71 lead, their first advantage of the game.
Dallas has bounced back largely due to Doncic resting. After his return, the Mavericks took a 99-85 lead late in the third quarter with a lob off Derrick Jones Jr.'s dunk, and held a 99-89 lead going into the fourth.
Williams' powerful two-handed putback dunk cut Dallas' lead to 99-95, but the Mavericks fought back. Doncic capitalized on a screen from Derek Lively II and made a 3-pointer to put Dallas up 104-95 with nine minutes left. The Thunder never got closer than five points the rest of the way.
“We had a very good opponent tonight and we played very well,” Thunder manager Mark Daino said. I thought our effort tonight was really good. I think I tried to gear up a few times. I thought it was the execution that left something to be desired. ”
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