Late Surge by Thunder
In a thrilling Game 4 of the second round of the playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder staged a remarkable comeback in the closing minutes, outscoring the Dallas Mavericks 16-5. Despite Luka Doncic’s critical free throw miss, the Thunder held on for a narrow 100-96 victory, leveling the series at 2-2. Game 5 will now return to the Thunder’s home court for a pivotal showdown.
Mavericks’ Early Dominance
The Mavericks seized control early in the game with a 15-3 run in the first quarter, maintaining a lead of around 10 points for much of the game. However, their offense stalled in the latter part of the third quarter, allowing the Thunder to trim the deficit to just 4 points.
Back-and-Forth Final Quarter
The final quarter saw a back-and-forth battle, with the Mavericks struggling to find scoring opportunities while the Thunder capitalized on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s individual efforts and timely three-point shooting from Cason Wallace to close the gap.
Crucial Free Throws Determine Outcome
In the closing seconds, with the Mavericks trailing by 2 points, Luka Doncic drew a foul driving to the basket. However, his surprising miss on one of the two free throws squandered the chance to tie the game. Free throw shooting became a decisive factor in the outcome, with Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander both going 4-4 from the line, while Doncic and his teammates struggled, shooting 3-6 collectively.
Thunder’s Balanced Effort
Despite shooting just 38% from the field, the Thunder relied on a balanced scoring effort. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Chet Holmgren contributed 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Williams added 14 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals.
Mavericks’ Mixed Performances
For the Mavericks, Luka Doncic recorded a triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists but committed 7 turnovers. P.J. Washington continued his strong offensive display with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Kyrie Irving struggled, scoring just 9 points on 4-11 shooting. (ME88)
