The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Dallas franchise playoff record of 13 blocks on Monday night, 100-96, to tie their Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points in the victory. With 1:29 left, Jalen Williams drove for a slam for a 94-91 lead after Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort made clutch 3-pointers late in the game, while Dallas players and coaches cried out for a double-dribble call.
On the rival team’s home court, the two teams divided a pair. Oklahoma City will host Game 5 on Wednesday night. Luka Doncic had two free throws with 10.1 seconds remaining and the Mavericks down two points, their final opportunity to tie. However, the Dallas star failed to make the first. The Mavs lead by 14 points early in the second half, buoyed by one of their greatest defensive performances of the year. However, the Thunder’s offensive vanished there, and they gradually returned. With 3:24 left, Holmgren’s 3-pointer put Oklahoma City ahead 89-86, their first lead since the beginning of the game.
With 21 points, P.J. Washington led Dallas in scoring once more, followed by Doncic with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Kyrie Irving scored nine points in the series, his second game with fewer than ten points. Dort finished with 17 points, including his clutch 3-pointer on a 3-of-10 shooting night from outside the arc. Holmgren finished with nine rebounds and 18 points.
