In a pivotal Game 2 showdown, Luka Doncic showcased his resilience, spearheading the Dallas Mavericks to a 119-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Doncic delivered an impressive performance, tallying 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, helping to square the Western Conference semifinals at one win apiece.
Reflecting on the game, Doncic commented, “I think that was one of the hardest games I’ve had to play. I’m battling out there trying to do my best to help the team win.”
Joining Doncic in the spotlight was P.J. Washington, who contributed 29 points and 11 rebounds, significantly bolstering the Mavericks’ offensive effort. Kyrie Irving also played a crucial role, chipping in with nine points and 11 assists for the No. 5-seeded Mavericks.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge for the Thunder with an impressive stat line of 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Jalen Williams added 20 points to Oklahoma City’s tally.
From the opening tip-off, Dallas asserted its dominance, with Doncic leading the charge by scoring 16 points in the first quarter alone. Despite a resilient effort from the Thunder, Dallas maintained control throughout the game.
Heading into halftime with a 68-62 lead, the Mavericks showcased their offensive prowess, draining 12 three-pointers in contrast to Oklahoma City’s six.
Although the Thunder managed to tie the game early in the third quarter, Dallas quickly regained momentum, fueled by Doncic’s leadership. A pivotal moment came late in the third quarter when Doncic’s lob for a dunk by Derrick Jones Jr. extended the Mavericks’ lead to 99-85.
Despite a valiant effort from the Thunder to claw their way back into contention, Dallas remained composed, ultimately securing a crucial victory to even the series.
Following the game, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault acknowledged the Mavericks’ formidable performance, stating, “We’ve got a really good opponent that played really well tonight. We tried to scrap back into it. I thought our effort was really good tonight. I thought we tried to gear it up a couple different times. I thought where we left something to be desired was execution.”
With the series now tied, the Mavericks and the Thunder gear up for a pivotal Game 3 showdown, set to take place on Saturday.
