Thunder 116 - 117 Mavericks summary, stats, scores and highlights | NBA Playoffs Game 6
The Dallas Mavericks are moving on to the Western Conference Finals for the second time in three years after their Game 6 win over the top seeded OKC Thunder. Luka and Kyrie didn't play their best in each and every game this series, but if the last six games showed us anything is that this isn't just a team with two super stars. This is a team that expects to compete for a championship and it seems like everything is clicking at the right time.
The Mavs will know await the winner of tomorrow's Timberwolves vs. Nuggets game from Ball Arena.
Down by a point, the Mavs had the ball with a chance to win it and it was PJ Washington with the ball in his hands. The same PJ Washington that carried this team when Luka and Kyrie were struggling at times. The same PJ that led the team in scoring for thee of the six game in the series and the same PJ that had 0 points after three quarters of Game 6. He ended the night with 9 points, and ended the Thunder's season with two FTs after this controversial call on SGA who had another amazing game, scoring 36 points on 14/25 FGs.
After going scoreless for the first three quarter, and only hitting one FT in the fourth quarter, PJ Washington opened up after Luka got doubled and hit the biggest three of his NBA career. He sank a couple three balls in the last four minutes of the game to tied the game, and then take a 113-110 lead with two minutes to go.
Kyrie has been living off of big second halves in this series and throughout the playoffs. He has learned to let Luka and the other guys get going and then in the blink of an eye he takes over a game and changes the pace of play. He had four points in the first half but finished with 22 and hit some clutch shots along the way. He is now 14-0 in close out games over the course of his career. He is back in the Conference Finals for the first time since he was a Cleveland Cavalier.
OKC went up 17 in the third quarter but went on a field goal drought of over six minutes. Down 17, the Mavs and the American Airlines Center fans seemed defeated by Kyrie and Luka would turn it one and chance the game with a big ran that would pull the home side within four.
Derek Jones Jr. had a massive series and was at his best in the biggest games of the season. After scoring 19 points in Game 5, he dropped 22 points and hit 4/6 threes in his best playoff performance of the series.
Luka was getting back in to it with the refs after a smooth Game 5, but it didn't seem to affect his game. He kept going, kept attacking and kept scoring against Lu Dort who struggled with all night and all series.
The Mavs would close the double digit lead and even go ahead for the blink of an eye, but OKC responded as everyone from Dallas not named Luka struggled to score. Kyrie Irving had just 4 points and 1 assist at halftime, but would turn it on in the second half.
The rookie Derek Lively has been the revalation of this season. Sure, Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington have been great additions, but Lively brings an energy and relentless spirit that he brings each and every night. He had 12 points and 15 rebounds and came up with some big boards and even bigger FTs late on.
The Dallas Mavericks are moving on to the Western Conference FInals for the second time in three years after completing a 17 point second half comeback over the OKC Thunder in Game 6 from American Airlines Center. Luka Doncic carried Dallas with another playoff triple double, scoring 29, 10, and 10 assists to lead his team back to the Conference Final.
With a chance to close out the series at home, of course the Mavs were gong to go to their MVP candidate early and often. The Mavs didn't get off to a great start in the first quarter, but would rebound after going down by double digits.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
Jalen Williams missed the full court buzzer beater and the Dallas Mavericks heading to the Conference Finals for the second time in three years.
Washington got fouled on the three pointer by SGA in the corner, and ufff it was close. OKC challenged it and the foul stands!
Washington to the line where he hits the first two FTs and misses the final one on purpose with 2.5 to go.
SGA finger rolls it up to Holmgren on the alley oop slam and the Thunder lead!
Washington calld for an away from the play call on the inbound, so OKC get a FT which SGA hits and they get the ball back with 27 second to go.
Timeout Thunder this game is coming down to the wire.
Massive shot from downtown from SGA and man is this dude clutch! Under 1:00 to go.
Irving got his shot blocked on the baseline, but Jones caught it and hit the fader as the shot clock buzzer sounded.
Doncic felt the double, got it off to Washington and he drills another huge three ball! He has been so good all series and has come alive in the 4th quarter.
SGA with another big bucket from right outside the paint.
Irving pulls up from the wing, and gets a wild roll off the rim that finally bounced up high and dropped.
SGA got doubled and found Williams who drills the three ball@
Doncic off the dribble and he hits the step back fro the elbow!
Timeout OKC with 3:39 to go!
Washington got the offensive board off the missed FT, got it to Luka who gave it back to Washington for three in the cornerl!
Lively to the line after fighting for another offensive rebounds and he hits both FTs after the foul on Holmgren.
SGA pulls up from the wing and the mid range J falls.
Timeout Mavs with 4:43 to go in the 4th.
Under 5:00 to go.
Irving on the baseline and he slips it back for Lively who slams it home and gets the foul! FT is good.
Williams on the baseline drive and two handed slam!
Washington to the line after the foul on SGA and he hits one of two FTs for his first point of the night.
Williams over the top for Holmgren for the alley oop slam.
Wallace drives down the baseline and reverses it up and in.
Lively on the tip slam off the missed lay up from JOnes.
LIvely fighting on the boards and tips the offensive rebound out to Washington who finds Irving in the corner for three!
Timeout OKC with 7:22 to go.
Doncic works the pick and roll and he slips it to Lively for the lay up.
Joe drills a big three and the Thunder needed that with the Mavs creeping back in to this game.
Luka gets to the FT line and hits the fade away jumper.
Irving pulls up from the elbow and drains the mid range.
Williams spins through the lane and gets the lay up to fall.
Doncic finds Jones in the corner and he strokes it! He's got 20 on the night.
Williams looks up top to Holmgren who throws it down off the alley oop.
WE ARE HEADED TO THE FINAL QUARTER WITH THE THUNDER HANGING ON TO A SEVEN POINT LEAD!
Jones drills a three ball in the corner after the kickout from Washington!
Dort is called for his fifth foul, and sends Luka to the line where he hits both FTs.
Giddey on the offensive board on put back off the miss from Wiggins.
Timeout Mavs with 45 to go in the 3rd quarter.
SGA back to work, this time on the baseline and he's got 7 straight points.
SGA pulls up from outside and drills it from the wing!
SGA on the spin and offbalanced shot from outside the lane.
Irving bangs home a long ball, but his foot was on the line.
The call is overturned so Dort goes to the line and the foul is called on Hardy. Dort hits both FTs.
Dort stole the ball from Luka, but then was called for an offensive foul on the other end. The Thunder will challenge, but if that stands that's his 5th.
Williams to the line after the foul on Irving and he hits one of two FTs.
LIvely called for a defensive three seconds and Williams hits the FT.
Pull up from the paint and Kyrie gets it to fall. 13-0 run from DAL.
Luka to the line after the break and he hits both FTs.
Luka was fouled by Williams. He'll be at the line after the timeout break with 6:44 to go in the third quarter.
Doncic steps back after a turnover by OKC and he drills the three! 9-0 run and this arena is going crazy!
Irving strings a step back three ball after the offensive rebound from Washington!
Doncic attacks the rack, gets the bucket and the foul on Dort, his fourth! FT is good.
Irving gets back to the lane and he lays it up and in. Let's see if that spurs him in the second half.
Williams down low to Holmgren and he slams it down in traffic.
Williams to the line after the foul on Jones and he hits both FTs.
Willams answers back with a three ball of his own and he keeps the lead at double digits.
Jones on the spot up and he drills another three! He's got 8 points in the quarter!
Gafford follows his own miss and tips it in.
Williams goes back to the cup and lays it up. It's too easy for OKC right now.
Jones going back at the rack and he lays it up and in.
Holmgren gets the dump down from SGA and lays it up and in from down low.
Jones starts the third quarter with the three ball from the corner.
WE ARE BACK IN DALLAS FOR THE SECOND HALF OF GAME 5.
IT was 45-42 OKC at one time, but the Thunder went on a big run and head into the half up 16.
Holmgren has 9, and none of the OKC starters have less than 8. The rest of the Dallas starters outside of Luka have 16 combined points.
Kyrie has just 4 points and zero assists in the first half. The Mavs aren't going to have much of a chance if doesn't step up in the final two quarters.
OKC would take an early double digit lead in the first quarter, but Dallas would come clawing back. Jalen Williams has 9 points, including this flashy finish at the buzzer.
Dereck Lively come off the bench and injected some energy into the offense. He's got 4 points and 5 rebounds.
Luka came to play, but not many of the other Mavs did. He is all on his own, with 15 points at half, while the next highest scorer has 6.
Dort is in for his defense, but he can score the rock. He had 9 quick points in the first quarter, and goes to half with 9.
The Thunder wasted no time getting going for Game 6 on the road. Jalen Williams got the opening bucket before Dallas could even get their defense set. He's got 9 on the night.
Joe jacks a three ball from the top of the key and that's going to take us to the end of the first half from Dallas.
Gafford to the line after the foul on Wallace and he hits one of two FTs.
Jay. Williams with another three ball and the Thunder have heated up from downtown in the last few minutes.
Holmgren stretching to the iron and he gets the floater to fall.
SGA answers back with a step back three ball and he's been on the money all night.
Hardy in the corner and the long ball falls. He's having some nice minutes off the bench.
Joe in the corner and he got the kick out from Williams for the three ball to but the Thunder up 9.
SGA into the lane and he gets the leaner to fall.
Gafford soaring to the rack and he slams down the alley oop off the feed from Hardy.
Wallace in the corner off the kick out from Holmgren and he hits the three ball!
Joe picks off Kyrie and rleases Holmgren to the bucket for the slam on the break.
SGA draws the defense in the lane and he dumps it down for Holmgren for the slam.
The call stands and and SGA goes to the line where he hits one of two FTs.
Doncic was called for a blocking foul underneath, but Dallas is going to challenge the call as they think it should have been a charger.
Doncic off the handoff and he spots up from a step behind the arc!!!
Jones drives to the rack and gets it to fall underneath.
SGA off the dribble and he hits the lay up in traffic.
Green was left open on the wing and he sinks the long ball.
Luka over the top for JOnes on the alley oop slam from the baseline.
Luka strolling up the court, gets into the paint and gets a tough leaner in the lane to go over traffic.
Timeout OKC with 7:14 to go in the first half.
Irving snatches the rebound on one end and goes coast to coast, finishing with a tough lay up in traffic.
Gafford to the line after the foul on Holmgren, his third, and he hits one of two FTs.
SGA with the fader over Green, and hits the shot AND 1! FT is no good.
SGA to the line after the foul on Washington and he hits one of two. Washington has three fouls already.
SGA goes up and under on the baseline and splits the double team before laying it up and off the glass.
SGA gets T'd up after arguing a foul call with the ref, and SGA sinks the FT.
Hardaway on the baseline and he steps back hitting the short jumper over Joe.
K. Williams with the put back off the miss from Dort on the lay up.
Doncic with a step back from the mid range and that's how the quarter starts. He's got 10 already.
BUZZER BEATS FROM WILLAM FROM MID COURT AND THAT'S HOW THE FIRST QUARTER ENDS!
Dort leads OKC with 9 points, while SGA and Williams have 7 a piece.
Doncic has 8 points, but the next highest scorer is Lively with 4 off the bench.
Hardy going into the belly of Holmgren and he gets the bucket and the foul!
FT is no good.
Holmgren to the line after the foul on Hardy and he hits both FTs.
SGA pulls up from outside the lane and he's got 7 now.
Hardy on the penetration and lob up the middle for the alley oop slam.
SGA gets the kick out from Williams and he drills a three out of the timeout.
Timeout Thunder with 3:24 to go in the first quarter.
Lively sets the pick and rolls to the basket for the jam down the lane.
Green to the line after the foul on Giddey and he hits one of two FTs.
Joe running the break and he pulls up from outside the lane for the short jumper.
Green on the spin and fader from just outside the lane.
SGA gets the roll off the rim from the baseline jumper on the mid range.
Doncic with a step back and he drills another three ball fro the top of the key. 8-0. run from DAL.
Kyrie gets into the lane and his the off balanced jumper from the paint.
Doncic spins, steps back and hits the three in the face of Dort from the top of the key!
Dort his another three ball and he's off to a terrific start tonight.
Jones to the line out of the timeout and he hits both FTs after the foul on Holmgren.
The calls is reversed, but the three ball is going to stand. Dallas ball. after the review.
Dort drilled a three and there was a late whistle called on Doncic for the AND 1, but the Mavs are going to challenge the call.
Williams picks off Luka and takes it all the way for the steal and slam.
Holmgren with a pump fake and take from the perimeter and he threads the three ball!
Gafford gets his own rebound underneath and raises to slam it back home.
Dort with a power dribble down low, gets the bucket to fall and the foul! FT is good.
Luka to the line after a quick foul on Dort, and he hits both FTs.
Quick push pass off the tip off from SGA to Williams who races to the iron and lays it up and in in the first three seconds of the game.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM DALLAS!!!
Mavs starters
After five games, the Mavs are up 3-2 and in control of the series so why change now? Jason Kidd is going with Luka, Kyrie, Derick Jones Jr., Gafford, and PJ Washington. We have seen Jones, Gafford and Washington pitch in to push Dallas into the lead in the series, and tonight all three of them are going to have to step up.
Thunder starting five
In Game 5 from OKC. the Thunder went with Isiah Joe instead of Josh Giddey and seemed to throw the Thunder's out of their groove. Tonight Giddey starts on the bench and Joe is in the starting five. He is joined by SGA, Williams, Holmgren and Lu Dort.
What's Kyrie serving?
Kyrie is a superstar and he will always will be. It's true he's had to take a more minor role in the shadow of Luka Doncic, but he seems to be fine accepting that and when it's his time to take over he puts the team on his shoulders. He hasn't had the best of series. The former Dukie is averaging just 14.4 points which is more than 10 ppg less than he did in the regular season. If he has a big game tonight, the Mavs most likely take this series.
Celtics the first to reach Conference Final
The only team to have qualified for the Conference Finals so far is the Boston Celtics. The Western Conference was a meat grinder all year, and the final four surviving teams are battling it out deep into their series. The Knicks and Pacers will be decided by a Game 7, the Nuggets and Timberwolves series is going to a Game 7, and tonight the Mavs and Thunder could be going to a Game 7 depending on how tonight ends. While it isn’t clear who is moving on in those series, one thing is clear. The Celtics are going to be the most rested and refreshed going into next round and into the Finals if they make it.
Dallas duo relying on experience
The one thing that the Mavs have to use to their advantage in games like this is their experience in big playoff games. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been to the Conference Finals before. They have played elimination games before and they know how to handle the pressure of the spotlight. Dallas is a team that is still building their chemistry after brining in Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington in the middle of the season. Those guys have never been in a spot like this, so it will be instrumental for the vets to lead the way in Game 6 at home.
J Dub for the W
With their season on the line, it’s going to be SGA that needs to do what he always does. He is an established super star and a bonafide MVP candidate. We know he is going to come out and score 20, because he could do that with his eyes closed with one hand tied behind his back. What he needs is Jalen Williams to step up. Williams is capable of taking over games, but this series hasn’t been his best. He is averaging 16 points a game, and doesn’t seem to be as involved in the offense as he has been all season. SGA can carry a team, but he shouldn’t have to in a game as important as tonight’s. He’s going to need some help, preferably from Williams.
Game 5 recap
Dallas seemed to lose all the momentum they had garnered after taking home court from the Thunder with their Game 4 loss, but they went into OKC and had produced their best game of the series. Luka Doncic finally found his rhythm, and Derick Jones Jr. picked the perfect night to have the best game of his postseason. Luka looked unbothered by his plethora of injuries and what was even better was he didn’t let the referees affect his play. He came out focused on the goal at hand and had his team up double digits for the final three quarters. A 12-0 run at the beginning of the second quarter put the Mavs ahead and they kept that comfortable cushion over OKC until the finish line as Luka had a 31 point triple double while Derrick Jones Jr. chipped in 19 points.
We are live from Dallas
Hello everyone and welcome to Big D where the Mavs are back home in front of their fans looking to seal the series and return to the Conference Finals for second time in the last three years. To do so they will have to take down the top seed in the West tonight, after Dallas dropped their last game at the AA Center in Game 4. After losing their grip on the series, they went into OKC and dominated the Thunder with a wire to wire win in a game that Luka Doncic finally looked like he was his best self. The Thunder are going to have to do the same tonight, and it’s going to be up to SGA to lead his team to the win and force a Game 7. Does OKC extend the series or does Dallas close it out? We’ll find out in 48 minutes.
Thunder vs. Mavs Game 6
We’ve got an elimination game in store tonight from Dallas as the top seeded team in the West is against the ropes needing a win to survive, and force a Game 7. It’s Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks taking on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder and the home side have a chance to be the first team to advance to the Conference Finals. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, scores and highlights of tonight’s must se match up from American Airlines Center.