Thunder’s Strong Start
In the opening game of the Western Conference semifinals, the Oklahoma City Thunder asserted their dominance over the Dallas Mavericks, clinching a commanding 117-95 victory. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 29-point performance, the Thunder secured a favorable start to the series.
Youthful Thunder Prevail
With an average age of just 23.9 years, the top-seeded Thunder swept the Pelicans in the first round, showcasing their talent and depth. Meanwhile, the Mavericks advanced past the Clippers in six games. In their four regular-season meetings, the Thunder emerged victorious thrice.
Wiggins and Gilgeous-Alexander Lead Charge
Both teams started cautiously, ending the first quarter tied at 23 apiece. However, the Thunder surged ahead in the second quarter behind strong performances from Aaron Wiggins and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, taking a nine-point lead into halftime.
Irving’s Efforts and Thunder’s Response
Despite a strong start to the second half by Kyrie Irving, who helped trim the deficit to just one point, the Thunder regained control after a timeout. Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring spree, coupled with solid defense, pushed the Thunder’s lead back to double digits.
Williams Sparks Fourth-Quarter Surge
Jalen Williams, who had only scored 8 points through the first three quarters, exploded in the final period with 10 points, extending the Thunder’s lead to 20 points. With victory all but assured, the Mavericks opted to rest Luka Doncic and Irving, conceding defeat early.
Gilgeous-Alexander Shines, Doncic Struggles
Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 29 points, accompanied by 9 rebounds and 9 assists. Chet Holmgren contributed 19 points and 7 rebounds, while Williams added 18 points and 5 assists off the bench. Meanwhile, Doncic struggled with a knee injury, managing just 19 points on 6-of-19 shooting.
Mavericks’ Efforts Fall Short
Despite Irving’s 20 points and Daniel Gafford’s 16 points and 11 rebounds, the Mavericks couldn’t overcome the Thunder’s dominant performance. P.J. Washington and Josh Green added 10 and 11 points, respectively, off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a Game 1 defeat. (Betso88)