Luka Doncic delivered the same old magic, but an unlikely hero in PJ Washington brought the thunder straight to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s hearts.
Washington dropped a playoff career-high in points, whle Doncic added 29, as the fourth-seeded Dallas Mavericks hung on to prevail over the top-seeded Thunder, 119-110, in Game 2 to pull even in their Western Conference semifinals series.
Luka Doncic comes up big and P.J. Washington drops playoff career-highs across the board to lift the @dallasmavs to the Game 2 victory, tying the series 1-1!
— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2024
Luka: 29 PTS | 10 REB | 7 AST | 5 3PM
P.J.: 29 PTS | 11 REB | 4 AST | 7 3PM#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/oiIy95lzOB
Washington put up his best game yet as a Maverick, scoring 19 points in the first half and finishing 29 in a breakthrough performance, while grabbing 11 rebounds and another postseason-high seven triples.
However, the former Kentucky Wildcat fouled out late in the game.
The Mavericks though, who drained 18 triples overall, stayed composed en route to a big road win.
P.J. is FEELING it... hits his 7th triple of the night!
— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2024
Mavs-Thunder | Game 2 on ESPN https://t.co/Y9MSqIudNh pic.twitter.com/fId3Jl2EY1
Doncic bucked a banged-up knee and also started hot, pouring 16 points in the opening half and added 13 more in the final two quarters to go along with 10 rebounds, seven dimes, and five triples made.
Luka getting to his spots with ease!
— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2024
Mavs lead by 9 with under 5 to play in the 4th on ESPN 👀 pic.twitter.com/sAa43cCdSr
OKC raced to a 10-0 run, bridging the end of the third and the start of the fourth, to trim the deficit from 99-85 to 99-95 capped off by a Jalen Williams putback slam.
JDub slams in the putback! 💪
— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2024
OKC rips a 10-0 run to start the 4th quarter on ESPN 👀 pic.twitter.com/8UrT5ggajs
As the Thunder kept coming back and twice bringing down the lead to single digits, the Mavericks responded, including a clutch Tim Hardaway Jr. triple at 2:26 to pad Dallas’ lead back to 11, 117-106.
Speaking of Hardaway Jr., the veteran shooter chipped in 17 points, highlighted by a personal 10-run in the third frame that allowed the Mavericks to take a 90-79 lead.
Tim Hardaway Jr. and-1 triple... that's 10 STRAIGHT PTS 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2024
Mavs-Thunder | Game 2 on ESPN pic.twitter.com/j6lIDILhzD
Daniel Gafford added 13 while Kyrie Irving, who is averaging 25.6 points in the playoffs so far, was limited to just seven points.
On the other hand, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for the Thunder with 33 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists. Williams chipped in 20, and rookie Chet Holmgren had 11, including this buzzer-beating triple to end the first quarter.
CHET DRILLS IT TO BEAT THE 1Q BUZZER 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2024
Mavs lead 36-32 after 1 on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/3K63eF4HQh
OKC got only their first taste of the lead in the third at 72-71 after Aaron Wiggnins scored a floating bucket. The Thunder trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half despite SGA collecting 18 markers.
Aaron Wiggins' floater gives OKC their first lead of the game!
3Q action live on ESPN 🍿 pic.twitter.com/tcDFW8AYlN
— NBA (@NBA) May 10, 2024
For the first time this postseason, OKC lost and allowed more than 100 points for the first time in their six playoff games.
Games 3 and 4 of the series now shifts to Dallas with both teams aiming to get back on the driver seat
