The Oklahoma City Thunder are heading to the semifinals of the NBA playoffs after a thrilling 125-115 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the star of the show, scoring a career-high 39 points to lead his team to victory.
Gilgeous-Alexander was unstoppable, shooting 14-23 from the field and 4-7 from three-point range. He also added 7 rebounds and 5 assists to his impressive stat line. The Thunder’s point guard was able to get to the rim at will, using his quickness and agility to evade defenders and finish with ease.
The Mavericks, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm. Luka Dončić, their star player, had a tough night, scoring only 22 points on 7-22 shooting. He also turned the ball over 5 times, which didn’t help his team’s cause. The Mavericks’ bench was outscored 35-20 by the Thunder’s reserves, which further contributed to their defeat.
The game was close throughout, with the Thunder holding a slim 2-point lead at halftime. However, Gilgeous-Alexander took over in the third quarter, scoring 13 points to help his team build a 10-point lead. The Mavericks made a late push in the fourth quarter, but the Thunder held on to secure the win.
With the victory, the Thunder advance to the semifinals of the NBA playoffs, where they will face the winner of the Utah Jazz-Denver Nuggets series. The Mavericks, on the other hand, are eliminated from the playoffs.
The Thunder’s win was a total team effort, with four other players scoring in double figures. Danilo Gallinari added 23 points, while Chris Paul chipped in with 20 points and 7 assists. The Thunder’s defense was also impressive, holding the Mavericks to just 42% shooting from the field.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, will have to regroup and figure out what went wrong in this series. They had high hopes after winning 43 games in the regular season, but ultimately came up short.
In the end, the Thunder’s superior depth and defense proved to be too much for the Mavericks. Gilgeous-Alexander’s dominant performance was the difference-maker, and he will be looking to carry his momentum into the semifinals.
