In a showdown featuring two dynamic duos, the Oklahoma City Thunder outperformed the Dallas Mavericks, claiming a 117-95 victory in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren led the charge for the Thunder, who displayed a dominating performance to take the lead in the best-of-seven series.
After a neck-and-neck first quarter, which ended in a 23-23 tie, the Thunder began to pull away, gaining a nine-point advantage by halftime. The Mavericks, led by Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, managed to close the gap to just one point in the third quarter. However, the Thunder responded with a scoring burst to reestablish a double-digit lead, keeping Dallas at bay for the remainder of the game. Oklahoma City sealed the win with a decisive 28-16 fourth-quarter run.
Gilgeous-Alexander was the driving force for the Thunder, contributing 29 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. He was also active defensively, recording two blocks and a steal. Holmgren was a presence on both ends of the court, scoring 19 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and blocking three shots.
Although Irving sparked a brief Mavericks comeback with a strong third-quarter showing, his efforts couldn’t turn the tide. Irving’s three-pointer narrowed the Thunder’s lead to 66-65, but a 14-4 run from Oklahoma City widened the gap, ultimately leading to their comfortable win.
Despite having the youngest roster in the playoffs, the Thunder’s inexperience didn’t hinder them. They swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round, and their young core continued to shine against the Mavericks, who boast experienced players like Dončić and Irving. The Thunder’s defense stifled Dallas, holding them to just 39.3% shooting from the field and forcing 15 turnovers.
Dončić, dealing with a lingering knee sprain, struggled with his shot, finishing with 19 points on 6-of-19 shooting, including just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc. Irving had 20 points on an efficient 7-of-14 shooting, but the Mavericks couldn’t find consistent offensive rhythm.
The Thunder, on the other hand, showcased their shooting prowess, hitting 16-of-35 three-pointers. Jalen Williams added 18 points and five rebounds, while Aaron Wiggins contributed 16 points off the bench, shooting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Game 2 is set for Thursday night in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will look to extend their lead in the series against a Mavericks team searching for answers.
