There is a series. Despite leading by as many as 14 points and controlling most of the game, the Dallas Mavericks were unable to get a shutout in Game 4. The Oklahoma City Thunder fought back in the fourth quarter to win 100-96 and tie the series. 2 games each.
For OKC, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a superstar performance, recording 34 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Chet Holmgren also had 18 rebounds, nine rebounds and four blocks.
It was an inefficient night for Luka Doncic, who scored 18 points on 6-of-20 shooting, including 2-of-3 and seven turnovers. . Kyrie Irving had nine assists but only nine points. PJ Washington had another great performance with 21 points and five 3-pointers.
The series returns to OKC for a crucial Game 5 on Wednesday. Here are four takeaways from Game 4.
1. SGA plays a superhero
Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to this victory in every sense of the word. He scored 34 points (a playoff career high) and sank one methodical midrange jumper after another (from behind the backboard) as OKC struggled to find points from beyond the arc for much of the game. (including some legitimate shots), and sank a methodical midrange jumper late in the game. (26% as a team) or at the rim (35% as a team). In money time, SGA scored or assisted on 18 of OKC's final 22 points in the final six minutes of the game. Truly a superstar thing.
2. Luka Doncic was terrible.
I'm not exaggerating. Luka was really bad in this game despite posting a triple-double box score of 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Thunder are clearly frustrating him with their physicality and multiple defenders chasing him everywhere. He's asking the referee for relief in his usual fashion, but the call isn't coming and Doncic isn't generating any consistent downhill leverage. In the end, Doncic had more turnovers (seven) than he made shots (six), and he missed a free throw with 10 seconds left that could have sent the game to overtime. He may still be nursing an injury, but the Mavericks need every bit of their superstar.
3. The Mavs lost this game at the stripe.
As mentioned above, the Mavericks more or less kept the Thunder at the rim (Daniel Gafford, Derek Lively, and Derrick Jones Jr. combined for 12 of Dallas' 13 blocked shots). Additionally, Dallas outscored OKC with 12 points in the paint and 12 points from beyond the arc. Dallas had more rebounds. More assist.
So where did the Thunder win this game? They were 23-of-24 from the free-throw line to Dallas' 12-of-23. OKC won the 3-point battle in the fourth, 12-3, and once again SGA faced a critical situation. But regardless, Dallas has the best chance of winning this game if they just make free throws. Doncic's aforementioned mistake with 10 seconds left was a microcosm of the night for Dallas.
4. Turning point
With 6:36 left in the fourth quarter, with the Thunder leading by seven points, Lou Dort missed a 3-pointer and the ball was knocked out of his hands after Jaylin Williams went down on an offensive rebound. The on-court call was a Dallas ball, but Williams claimed that the ball actually hit Dallas' Derrick Jones Jr. at the end and was deflected. OKC coach Mark Daigneault believed in his players, challenged them and won. That's where the game started.
Again, the Thunder trailed by seven points at that point and the ball went back to Dallas. Instead, OKC kept the ball and another (Jaylen) Williams immediately made a three-point play the old-fashioned way, cutting Dallas' lead to four. OKC made nine of the next 11 shots, turning a seven-point deficit into a five-point lead in just over five minutes.
