The No. 1-seeded OKC Thunder<\/a> will host the No. 5 Dallas Mavericks<\/a> in Sport 2 of the Western Conference semifinals<\/a> at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
OKC holds a 1-0 lead within the best-of-seven collection. It earned a 117-95 home win over Dallas in Game 1 on Tuesday<\/a>.
This is what you should know in regards to the matchup:
Extra:<\/strong>Mussatto: Thunder facing first true adversity in NBA playoffs after Game 2 loss to Mavs<\/a>
Extra:<\/strong>Mussatto: How Aaron Wiggins, Thunder bench fueled Game 1 rout of Mavericks in NBA playoffs<\/a>
Extra:<\/strong>How Lu Dort defended Luka Doncic like a ‘warrior’ for Thunder vs Mavericks in Game 1 win<\/a>
OKC takes its first lack of these playoffs and its first since April fifth, a 119-110 Sport 2 loss. Luka didn\u2019t appear to be the Luka of Tuesday or final spherical. 29 factors, 10 rebounds, 7 assists. PJ Washington kills the nook, has 29. Thunder by no means discovered that closing gear within the 4th.
\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Employees author<\/em><\/em>
Extra:<\/strong>Thunder vs Mavericks takeaways: Luka Doncic, 3-point shooting deliver Dallas a Game 2 win<\/a>
Dallas main 99-89 going into the fourth. In all probability gonna be on the Dub lineup to swing this recreation. Mavs have had some good responses, together with that THJ run. PJ Washington hasn\u2019t misplaced his contact.
\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Employees author<\/em><\/em>
Only a deflating play and sequence from Tim Hardaway Jr. 4-point play in transition, and Cason Wallace performed it like he knew it was coming. 10 straight factors for him.
\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Employees author<\/em><\/em>
Giddey posted a plus-minus of -14 in simply eight minutes performed within the first half.
Dallas with a 68-62 lead at half. Luka has regarded extra like Luka tonight. 7 for 11, making masterful reads \u2014 straightforward ones, actually. The nook is open, because it tends to be with OKC. PJ Washington has made a dwelling on the market. Mavs 12 for twenty-four from deep. Shai with 18, Dub with 14. OKC responded properly to that early deficit.
\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Employees author<\/em><\/em>
One thing occurred to Gafford\u2019s hand on the block a pair minutes again. After his miss there, regarded like he went straight to the locker room.
\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Employees author<\/em>
Sport of runs. Luka spins Dort out of the body, misses. Shai snatches some toes from his defender, money. OKC down 8.
\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Employees author<\/em>
The Thunder might need one of the best taking pictures followers within the NBA. For the third time in 4 playoff video games, a Thunder fan has made a halfcourt contest shot.
\u2014Jeff Patterson, Employees author<\/em>
Dallas forward 36-32 after 1. Luka Doncic\u2019s world to date: 16 factors, limitless stepbacks, extra whistles at this level than final recreation. The nook 3s are nook 3ing. Mavs 8 for 13 from deep. Actually, actually good quarter for the JWill-Chet lineup. Dug OKC out an early gap. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 10 factors.
\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Employees author<\/em>
Luka is right here. On a heater to begin this recreation. Couple step again 3s, probing within the PNR, an awesome lob to Gafford in opposition to a relaxed protection. He\u2019s had his fingers on every thing.
\u2014Joel Lorenzi, Employees author<\/em>
Two days after one OU nice was noticed courtside for Thunder-Mavericks at Paycom Middle, former Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray has an up-close view of Sport 2 on Thursday evening.
The previous OU soccer star was the No. 1 total decide within the 2019 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals, the place he stays the beginning quarterback.
Former OU basketball star Trae Younger was at Sport 1 on Tuesday.
\u2014Jeff Patterson, Employees author<\/em>
Denver\u2019s Nikola Jokic was the runaway winner of the NBA\u2019s Most Useful Participant award, however there was an actual race for second between Oklahoma Metropolis\u2019s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dallas\u2019 Luka Doncic.\u00a0
Gilgeous-Alexander acquired 15 first-place votes to Doncic\u2019s 4, and 40 second-place votes to Doncic\u2019s 36.\u00a0
Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder edged Doncic and the Mavericks in Sport 1, and SGA beat Doncic within the MVP race.\u00a0
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was requested earlier than Sport 2 Thursday in regards to the outcomes.\u00a0
\u201cI used to be actually rooting for him,\u201d Daigneault mentioned of SGA. \u201cI\u2019ve mentioned this earlier than, however I don\u2019t suppose the person awards validate something when it comes to the work that\u2019s been executed with any of our gamers, all the fellows who’ve been up for awards.\u00a0
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t change the truth that he had an awesome two-end season, an awesome common season, unprecedented numbers, and the affect that he\u2019s had on our crew not solely this season however over the course of this construct, you possibly can\u2019t even measure. An award wouldn\u2019t change any of these issues.\u201d\u00a0
Gilgeous-Alexander has logged back-to-back top-five MVP finishes. He completed fifth for the award final season.\u00a0
\u2014Joe Mussatto, Employees author<\/em>
The Thunder checked off all of the containers in its blowout Sport 1 win.
OKC held Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to a mixed 39 factors. It picked aside an improved Dallas protection. It showcased its depth by scoring 42 bench factors.
It is price noting that Dallas misplaced Sport 1 to the Los Angeles Clippers within the first spherical solely to win the collection, 4-2. The Mavericks know easy methods to regulate, however the Thunder ought to nonetheless have the ability to handle enterprise at dwelling on Thursday.
Prediction:<\/strong> Thunder 108, Mavericks 102
Extra:<\/strong>Why is OKC Thunder playing deep rotations in NBA playoffs? Mark Daigneault explains<\/a>
Extra:<\/strong>OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is runner-up in NBA MVP voting to Nikola Jokic<\/a>
None
Maxi Kleber (proper shoulder sprain) is out. Olivier Maxence-Prosper (left ankle sprain) is out. Luka Doncic (proper knee sprain) is possible.
Extra:<\/strong>At 16, Sam Presti wrote letter saying Celtics should draft Jason Kidd: ‘He was right’<\/a>
Extra:<\/strong>Was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander snubbed in NBA MVP voting? Shaquille O’Neal thinks so<\/a>
Extra:<\/strong>Luka Doncic continues playoff struggles in Mavs’ loss to Thunder: ‘I’ve got to be better’<\/a>
Extra:<\/strong>OKC Thunder fan gets warning for interaction with Kyrie Irving in Game 1 vs. Mavericks<\/a>
OKC gained the regular-season collection, 3-1.
Extra:<\/strong>Mussatto: Why Thunder vs Mavericks is the NBA rivalry we have longed for<\/a>
Odds courtesy of\u00a0BetMGM<\/a>\u00a0as of Thursday, Might 9<\/em>
Extra:<\/strong>2018 NBA Re-Draft: Would Luka Doncic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go No. 1?<\/a>
First-round picks<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0Celtics vs Heat<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Knicks vs 76ers<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Bucks vs Pacers<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Cavaliers vs Magic<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Thunder vs Pelicans<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Nuggets vs Lakers<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Timberwolves vs Suns<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Clippers vs Mavericks<\/a>
Second-round picks<\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0Thunder vs Mavericks<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Nuggets vs Timberwolves<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Celtics vs Cavaliers<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Knicks vs Pacers<\/a>
Extra:<\/strong>2024 NBA playoffs: Complete schedule, bracket breakdown, how to watch<\/a>
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