OKLAHOMA CITY — PJ Washington had a career-high 29 points and 11 rebounds Thursday to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 119-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. He shot 11-for-18 from the field and 7-for-11 from 3-point range, playing with confidence and authority and being an inspiration to his teammates.
“Going into the game, I was confident in my shot. I knew I was going to get a shot in the open corner,” Washington said. “So we had no choice but to come here and beat them.”
Luka Doncic had 29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, Tim Hardaway Jr. had 17 points and Daniel Gafford had 13 points and seven rebounds. On a night when Kyrie Irving stole the attention of the defense and scored nine points, there was a counterattack in the Mavericks' depth.
“P.J. played great. We went to him on the first play. We've got to do more. We've got to give him the ball more,” Doncic said. “Off the bench, Josh, D. Live, Tim, they were all great. It was a total team effort and everyone stepped on the floor and fought.”
The Mavericks took control of the game from the start, pushing the pace and taking advantage of the Thunder's slow start. Washington scored 11 points in the first quarter alone, contributing to their breakthrough. He continued to impress throughout the match, showing his versatility and range. He compensated the Thunder for giving him space in the corners and pick-and-pops by being aggressive and letting the ball fly on his catches.
Kyrie Irving said, “When you shoot a ball like that today, P.J. is obviously starting to step into that role. You know, we're dangerous.'' “And it's easy to see that kind of good basketball as teammates. We're making the right plays in the middle of the floor and our big players are making great decisions.”
The change in the Mavericks' approach was to have Washington in the post guarded by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in early situations. Letting the Thunder's best players do their work while hiding behind the defense proved to not only produce results, but also helped Washington find a rhythm.
“We attacked him a little bit in the post, and I think that sparked him,” Kidd said. “We didn't go to Luka or Kyrie early. We just let the ball find them.”
Having a third option to compensate for the defense helps, given the potential for opponents to double up and load Doncic and blitz Irving when he gets the ball. Washington hit a knockdown shot, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 10 straight points in the third quarter, and rotation contributions galore despite a hostile environment on a postseason trip. there were.
“We wanted to see something different. We always see Kai and Luka,” Kidd said. “We looked at something different and it worked, and we can probably build on that as we move forward with other role players.”
Irving, who finished with nine points and 11 assists, chose not to press the offense as Washington scored early, giving the Mavericks potential if they have a player to make a significant step up offensively. He has proven that he can perform strongly.
“It's not my time to press because everyone's on board,” Irving said. “It's time to do other things to help us be successful. That's just part of being a champion. Keep moving forward no matter what shots are thrown at you.”
The win was decisive for the Mavericks, who faced criticism for their slow pace and lack of offense in Game 1. But with Washington providing such a significant spark, Dallas showed new intensity and purpose, pushing the Thunder to their limits and winning. They took the lead in what was considered a “must-win” game to avoid losing the series 2-0.
“I think that was a must-win game for us,” Washington said. “I feel like we did our best. We got out in transition, didn't commit any fouls, rebounded well and played great team ball.”
The series moves to Games 3 and 4 in Dallas, with the Mavericks looking to use this momentum to take control of the series.
read more: Doncic's injury status unclear for Game 3 against Thunder
read more: Doncic and Irving Beef with Thunder fans after Mavericks' Game 2 win
read more: Mavericks beat Thunder in hard-fought Game 2, taking series to 1-1
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