It's not just once, but twice now that Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks stole all-important road wins against the West no. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder this playoffs.
Doncic came up with another triple-double performance, as the Mavericks bounced back thanks to 104-92 Game 5 win over the Thunder. Dallas has seized a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference semifinals series.
Luka dropped a triple-double to put the @dallasmavs one win away from the WCF!
— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2024
💫 31 PTS
💫 10 REB
💫 11 AST
💫 5 3PM
DAL leads 3-2 | Game 6: Saturday, 8:00pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/zEdIKoBJAl
Doncic tallied 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists for his sixth-career playoff triple-double, responding big-time after a subpar Game 4 performance with a pair of pin-point passing and clutch defense.
LUKA FULLCOURT LOB PASS 😲
DAL leads in the 2Q on TNT pic.twitter.com/TvOUBBFVmJ
— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2024
This Luka block to help preserve the lead late was TOUGH. 😤 pic.twitter.com/qeHFAYGwkE
— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2024
The Slovenian wizard started hot in the final frame, scoring eight of the Mavericks’ first 10 points for a whopping 18-point lead at 89-71 with 9:31 seconds left.
LUKA DRILLS FROM DEEP 🎯
— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2024
29 PTS, 9 REB, 9 AST
📺 Dallas leads in Game 5 on TNT pic.twitter.com/PMYwGId43G
OKC stormed back to cut the deficit to single digits on multiple occasions, but PJ Washington scored back-to-back buckets to keep the Mavericks within striking distance.
P.J. makin' BIG TIME plays 🫡 pic.twitter.com/GWQNPCPk4n
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) May 16, 2024
Derrick Jones Jr. contributed a solid-game offensively with 19 points, including hitting his first six shots and a crucial breakaway slam for a 13-point Mavericks lead, 99-86, with under two minutes to play.
DJJ BLOCK & SLAM. WHAT A PLAY. 😤
— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2024
Extends the Mavs' lead late in the 4th on TNT pic.twitter.com/cvEtoONXQV
Washington, who is averaging nearly 26 points per game in the last three games, was limited to 10 points and hauled down 10 rebounds.
The Mavericks rode a splendid shooting night all-game long, connecting on 53 percent clip from the field while knocking down 14 triples and claiming a 46-33 rebounding edge.
On the other hand, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for OKC with 30 points, six rebounds, and eight dimes. Chet Holmgren added 13.
Jalen Williams and Lu Dortz chipped in 12 points apiece.
The Thunder came within striking distance in the final frame after falling behind by as many as 18 points but were unable to replicate their Game 4 comeback win.
Lu Dort's triple cuts the lead to 10 in Game 5... watch 4th quarter action on TNT! pic.twitter.com/qVn1zLSWHI
— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2024
CHET HAMMER 💪
— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2024
Cuts the lead to 7 with 5 minutes left on TNT 👀#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/DUkfvmpPt8
For the first time this playoffs, the young Thunder squad are facing elimination and now lost two straight home games after winning their first three.
Game 6 of the series will be on May 19, Sunday, 8 a.m. LIVE on NBA TV Philippines and the Pilipinas Live app.
