Thunder overcome Mavericks in Game 4 to tie series
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) leaps to the basket to shoot as Dallas Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford, left, defends in the first half in Game 4 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Monday, May 13, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
DALLAS — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame a Dallas franchise playoff-record 13 blocks, rallying for a 100-96 victory Monday night to even their NBA Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2.
Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort hit clutch 3-pointers late, and Jalen Williams drove for a dunk and a 94-91 lead with 1:29 remaining as Dallas players and coaches screamed for a double-dribble call.
The teams split a pair on each other’s home court. Game 5 is Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.
READ: NBA: Mavericks hold off Thunder for 2-1 lead
OKC stormed back from a 14-point deficit in the 2nd half to even the series at 2-2 ⛈️
Game 5 is Wednesday at 9:30pm/et on TNT!#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/8gknXMAtjf
— NBA (@NBA) May 14, 2024
The Mavericks’ last chance to tie came with 10.1 seconds left when trailing by two, Luka Doncic had two free throws. But the Dallas superstar missed the first.
Backed by one of their best defensive efforts of the season, the Mavs led by 14 early in the second half. But their offense disappeared from there, and the Thunder slowly came back.
Oklahoma City went in front for the first time since early in the game — and for good — on Holmgren’s 3 for an 89-86 lead with 3:24 remaining.
P.J. Washington led Dallas in scoring again with 21 points, while Doncic had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Kyrie Irving had his second single-digit scoring game of the series with nine points.
Dort’s clutch 3 came on a 3-of-10 shooting night from deep as he finished with 17 points. Holmgren had 18 points and nine rebounds.
