The showdown between the Thunder and Mavericks in Game 4 had the Morning Sports Center buzzing, as the city of Dallas enjoyed a thrilling night in both the NHL and NBA conference semifinals. It was a double delight for Dallas fans, with both the Stars and the Mavericks in action. The Mavericks were up against a Thunder squad that had stormed into the postseason with five straight wins, but found themselves trailing 2-1 after consecutive losses in OKC.
The excitement began in the first quarter, with Kyrie Irving’s sublime assist to Daniel Gaffard, who continued his impressive series performance, giving the Mavericks an early three-point lead. Luca Doncic then showcased his range with a timely three-pointer, extending Dallas’ lead to 14-6. PJ Washington, who had been a standout in the series, contributed 21 points and 12 rebounds, helping the Mavericks finish the quarter with a commanding 30-20 lead.
As the second quarter unfolded, Derek Lively capitalized on one of Kyrie Irving’s seven first-half assists, pushing the Mavericks’ lead to eight. With just two minutes left in the half, Washington drained a three-pointer, part of his five-of-eleven performance from beyond the arc. Despite Dallas shooting 12 of 35 from three-point range, the Thunder, led by SGA’s tough fadeaway, tried to stay within reach, shooting 35% overall. But the Mavericks, fueled by Luca’s clutch three-pointer, maintained a 45-43 lead heading into halftime. With a perfect 17-0 playoff record when leading by double digits at halftime, the Mavericks were poised for an exciting second half.
In the midst of the third quarter, it was once again Washington making waves. They held onto a comfortable lead, hovering around the double-digit mark at 11 points. With just a minute remaining in the third, SGA showcased his skillset with a quick jab step followed by a silky smooth jumper. Then came a pivotal moment as OKC’s K Wallace, a standout from Kentucky, sunk a crucial three-pointer, slicing the lead to just four points as we headed into the final quarter, with the Mavs still in the lead by three. The atmosphere was electric, with both teams trading baskets and a bit of spirited exchange on the court. Washington received two technical fouls, and Dallas maintained a narrow five-point lead with five minutes left on the clock.
As the game reached its climax, SGA stepped up to the plate. The Thunder closed the gap to within two points, and then in a blink, Gilges Alexander demonstrated his offensive prowess, creating space for a beautiful fadeaway that knotted the score at 86 apiece. Chad Holgren also made his presence felt in the critical moments, tallying an impressive 18 points, nine rebounds, and four blocked shots. Lou Dort’s clutch three-pointer propelled OKC ahead by four, but the Mavericks refused to back down. Tim Hardaway Jr.’s timely three-pointer narrowed the deficit to just one point with a minute and a half left on the clock. Jaylen Williams, nearly losing possession in a crucial moment, managed to secure an easy basket, extending the Thunder’s lead to three. Williams continued to shine, contributing 14 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Jerick Jones brought the Mavericks within two points, and then there was the controversial call on Luca, resulting in one made free throw, leaving the game with a single-point difference.
With the Thunder clinging to a 96-94 lead and Luca at the line for two shots, the tension was palpable. SGA revealed his mindset: “If he makes both, we still have a chance. If he misses one, then it’s all about managing the game.”
Austin Rivers chimed in with his thoughts, welcoming “Reverse” to the discussion. He acknowledged the significance of the Thunder’s explosive fourth quarter, crediting Shay Gilgeous Alexander for his pivotal role in the victory. Beyond his scoring prowess, Rivers highlighted Shay’s ability to make plays with composure, emphasizing his knack for dictating the pace of the game. Shay’s consistency throughout the series didn’t go unnoticed either, with Rivers commending his adaptability and uncanny shot selection, particularly his mastery of difficult two-pointers. He recounted Luca’s acknowledgment of Shay’s signature shots, underlining the challenge defenders face against Shay’s versatile game. Rivers also praised the Thunder’s collective effort, singling out Lou Dort and K Wallace for their defensive contributions and clutch performances down the stretch. Despite facing adversity on the road, the Thunder’s resilience shone through, impressing fans and regaining control of the series.
Reflecting on the Mavericks’ perspective, Rivers acknowledged their frustration at letting the game slip away despite maintaining control for much of the match. He noted the Mavericks’ struggles in the fourth quarter, particularly with key players like Kyrie unable to find their rhythm and Luca facing a tougher shooting night. Rivers attributed part of their offensive woes to the Thunder’s relentless defensive pressure, highlighting the disruptive efforts of players like Lou Dort, Cas Wallace, Jason Williams, and Chad Homer. He observed a departure from the usual heroics of Kyrie and Luca when the game was on the line, suggesting they may have underestimated the Thunder’s resolve. The missed opportunity to take a commanding series lead weighed heavily on the Mavericks, turning a potential 3-1 advantage into a leveled playing field heading back to OKC.
As the series stood at 2-2, Luka Doncic addressed the media, acknowledging the need for improvement, particularly in free-throw shooting. He expressed disappointment at their subpar performance from the charity stripe and highlighted the importance of attention to detail, such as securing rebounds and minimizing defensive lapses. Despite his exertions on the defensive end, Doncic remained optimistic about their defensive effort overall, though he recognized the need to shore up certain aspects of their game moving forward.
Certainly!
Luka, it’s clear that you and Kyrie usually carry the load, putting up close to 60 points together per game. But what’s been the biggest challenge for you two to find your groove, especially tonight and throughout this series? “You know, it feels like they’re honed in on us. Whenever we drive, they collapse the paint, sometimes with all five guys. So, it’s been tough finding openings. We just gotta do a better job finding our teammates.”
After such a tough loss, where’s the team’s mindset right now? And how do you mentally bounce back after letting this one slip away? “We just gotta focus on the next game. It’s a race to four wins. Stay humble, stay ready. It’s like after game one—learn from our mistakes, move forward.”
You really stepped up on defense tonight. How are you feeling physically after putting in that effort? “Feeling pretty good, actually.”
Are there any concerns about coming back from this loss, especially with the missed free throws being a factor? “Nah, no concerns. We just gotta be ready to go. We played hard tonight, had a lot of energy. But those little mistakes cost us. We’ll bounce back; we’ve done it before.”
Your defense held strong until the fourth quarter when they exploded for 35 points. What changed defensively, apart from SGA’s scoring spree? “SGA was lights out, no doubt. Maybe we should’ve double-teamed him at some point. He’s just too good, especially with those mid-range shots.”
Speaking of those mid-range shots, is that something you’re okay with conceding rather than giving up drives, threes, or free throws? “It’s tough to say. That’s his bread and butter. But we gotta find a way to make it harder for him.”
Can you share any insights from Jason’s post-game talk in the locker room? “Sorry, that stays in the locker room.”
Coach Daigneault mentioned the pressure of playoff games. How do you reflect on that, especially after this loss? “Yeah, playoff games are a whole different ball game. We gotta give credit to them for enduring our early pressure. Even though we struggled offensively, our defense kept us in it for a while. Then things clicked for them in the fourth. But we’ll learn from this and come back stronger.”
When it comes to how our defense stepped up, what really stood out was our execution. Throughout the series, we’ve generally been solid in half-court situations. But when you talk about ‘digging in,’ that’s exactly what we did. It felt like that was the essence of the game—scrappy, relentless defense. Sure, our execution was sharp, but what made the real difference was the heightened effort, physicality, and sheer determination on the defensive end.
As for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s impact, it was quite something. Before our offense really found its rhythm, Shai had his moments where he missed some easy shots, ones he usually nails during the flow of play. But just like our team, he didn’t back down. He really took control late in the game. But what blew me away was not just his scoring, but his playmaking. He made some unbelievable passes, like the ones leading to Chad and Lou’s clutch shots. Choosing to trust his teammates instead of taking the shot himself, especially when we were down by 21 in the fourth quarter with a low three-point shooting percentage, shows an incredible level of trust and confidence. For a young star player with big ambitions, his maturity and decision-making in those crucial moments were truly impressive.
