OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was his regular self and Luka Doncic wasn’t.
Gilgeous-Alexander had 29 factors, 9 rebounds and 9 assists to assist the top-seeded Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks 117-95 on Tuesday night time in Recreation 1 of their Western Convention semifinal collection.
Gilgeous-Alexander made 8 of 19 subject targets and 11 of 13 free throws earlier than popping out of the sport with 3:26 remaining and the Thunder main 111-89.
Doncic, an MVP finalist like Gilgeous-Alexander, scored 19 factors on 6-for-19 taking pictures and had 5 turnovers.
He bristled when requested about his taking pictures.
“Who cares,” he mentioned. “We misplaced. We simply acquired to maneuver onto the following one. We’ve acquired to be higher.”
Lu Dort acquired a lot of the work guarding Doncic, with rookie Cason Wallace getting among the motion and 7-foot-1 middle Holmgren pestering him close to the rim.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned Dort, one of many league’s finest perimeter defenders did his job.
“He’s only a warrior,” Daigneault mentioned. “Brings the juice each single night time. Doncic is a very laborious matchup and an important participant that didn’t have his finest pitch tonight. He’s going to play higher than this. Lu made it laborious on him. I believed our group made it laborious on him.”
Holmgren added 19 factors, seven rebounds and three blocks.
Jalen Williams struggled along with his shot for 3 quarters however scored 10 of his 18 factors within the fourth to assist Oklahoma Metropolis stay unbeaten within the playoffs.
Kyrie Irving scored 20 factors and Daniel Gafford added 16 factors, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks for the fifth-seeded Mavericks.
Recreation 2 can be Thursday night time in Oklahoma Metropolis.
Daigneault is conscious that the Mavericks stole residence courtroom from the Los Angeles Clippers in Recreation 2 of their first-round collection.
Dallas went on to win that collection 4-2.
“I believe we are able to anticipate them to play higher than they did tonight,” Daigneault mentioned. “The very last thing we’re going to do is underestimate this opponent.”
The Thunder held the Mavericks to 39.3 p.c taking pictures and gained large, regardless of being outrebounded 52-39.
Gilgeous-Alexander rested briefly at first of the second quarter earlier than subbing in on the 8:20 mark.
He scored 11 factors within the interval to assist the Thunder take a 62-53 lead on the break.
He scored 19 factors within the first half, whereas reserve Aaron Wiggins scored 12 of his 16 factors earlier than the break.
Dallas opened the second half on a run, and a 3-pointer by Irving minimize Oklahoma Metropolis’s result in 66-65 and compelled the Thunder to name a timeout.
Isaiah Joe and Dort hit 3-pointers when play resumed, then Dort ripped Doncic, resulting in a dunk by Williams that put the Thunder up 74-67.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s 3-pointer with Doncic in his face put Oklahoma Metropolis up 80-69. Irving hit a 3-pointer because the third quarter expired, however the Thunder nonetheless led 89-79.
Williams scored eight straight factors for the Thunder in a run that put Oklahoma Metropolis forward 102-87, and the Thunder managed the sport from there.
The Thunder set an Oklahoma Metropolis playoff file with 29 assists.
“I believed we acquired a great groove going after form of a uneven begin,” Daigneault mentioned. “Actually clever assaults. We had a great mix of aggression and in addition taking what the protection gave us, protecting them on their heels, protecting the ball forward of them. They’re actually good while you decelerate and also you enable them to form of scheme and calibrate.”
The Mavericks might want to regroup.
“They’re an important group,” Doncic mentioned. “Nice defensive group, nice offensive group. So it’s not going to be simple in any respect. We’ve acquired to [play] superb basketball and centered basketball for 48 minutes.”