The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-110 in Game 2 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs, tying the series 1-1 as the teams travel back to Dallas for Game 3.
The Mavericks opened the gamer hot and did not trail until the third quarter, but key scoring runs helped them build and maintain a significant lead to help them tie up this series.
Dallas started the game hot as they jumped out to a 13-2 lead within the first three minutes of action, as guard Luka Doncic scored eight points and made all three of his field goal attempts.
The Thunder quickly cut this lead down with a flurry of baskets as guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a jump shot to cut the Mavericks’ lead to just 21-20 with 5:45 remaining in the quarter.
The teams went back and forth for the rest of the quarter before Doncic and forward P.J. Washington combined for 13 of the Mavericks’ final 14 points to give them a 36-32 lead heading into the second quarter.
Washington carried his hot shooting start into the second quarter, as he accounted for eight of the team’s first 14 points, helping the Mavericks extend their lead to 50-49 with 7:18 left in the quarter.
The lead got as big as 14 over the next few minutes of gameplay, but Gilgeous-Alexander exploded for eight straight points before making a pass to guard Lu Dort for a three-point basket, cutting Dallas’ lead to just 59-56 with 2:46 remaining in the half.
The teams played nearly even through the remainder of the half, as Mavericks guard Josh Green made a three-point field goal with less than 10 left in the quarter to give them a 68-62 lead at halftime.
Washington led the team with 19 points and five three-point baskets made in the first half, as Doncic followed closely behind with 18 points while also contributing five assists.
The second half began with Gilgeous-Alexander taking control early, scoring or assisting on the Thunder’s first 10 points to give them their first lead of the game at 72-71.
Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving got it going in the second half as well, scoring four points and hitting Green in the corner for a three-point field goal to give Dallas an 80-77 lead with 5:56 left in the quarter.
Dallas guard Tim Hardaway Jr. then began to take over as he scored 10 straight points to help the Mavericks extend their lead to 90-79 with 3:41 left in the quarter.
The remaining few minutes of the quarter featured the teams putting up equally impressive scoring runs, as the Mavericks went into the final quarter of the game with a 99-89 lead.
Another run from the Thunder to start the final quarter cut the Mavericks’ lead to just 99-95, but the Mavericks responded with their own 7-2 run to extend the lead back to nine points.
Doncic and Washington continued their scoring onslaught as they combined for eight points to help the Mavericks extend their lead to 112-101 with 4:13 left in the game.
The two teams continued to battle throughout the final quarter, but the Mavericks held onto their lead and managed to walk away with a 119-110 victory.
Doncic finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, while Washington contributed 29 points of his own while also pulling down 11 rebounds.
The team also got a significant scoring punch off the bench from Hardaway Jr., who finished with 17 points while making six of his 10 field goal attempts.
This Game 2 win ties the series 1-1 as the two teams head back to Dallas, with Game 3 currently scheduled to take place on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in American Airlines Center.
