in the third quarter all the more impressive was the fact it came with Doncic on the bench.
Thunder strike first in Mavs series | 01:09
Giddey, to his credit, grabbed two defensive rebounds and aggressively drove towards the rim to add a pair of points on both occasions before exiting with just over one minute still left in the quarter.
Giddey or no Giddey though, sloppy turnovers from Oklahoma City continued and given the way the Mavericks were shooting the Thunder were in no position to be giving up easy buckets.
Dallas took a 99-89 lead into the fourth but that quickly shrank as Wallace came up with two big plays, first burying a 3-pointer before expertly anticipating a Daniel Gafford pass to spark a Jalen Williams putback on the other end.
That, along with a Dort layup, started a 6-0 run to the quarter for the Thunder but as had been the case all game long, the Mavericks answered right back with two quick buckets of their own.
Dallas didn’t look back from that point, finishing 119-110 winners to level the series.
CAVALIERS SURPRISE CELTICS TO LEVEL SERIES (via AFP)
Donovan Mitchell led a comprehensive Cleveland team effort as the Cavaliers powered past the top-seeded Celtics 118-94 in Boston to level their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series at one game apiece.
Mitchell scored 23 of his 29 points in the second half and received plenty of support from aggressive teammates as the Cavs bounced back from a game-one rout.
Evan Mobley, 22, got Cleveland going early, scoring 15 of his playoff career-high 21 points in the first half. Mobley added 10 rebounds and five assists and reserve guard Caris LeVert added 21 points off the bench for Cleveland, who had six players score in double figures.
‘F*** you’ – Knicks star trolls Reggie | 00:33
“I like the way that we were just attack-minded,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We didn’t settle for the first quick (shot) that we saw. We were attack-minded and understanding how they’re playing with their space.”
The Cavs fell behind in each of the first two quarters but finished both of them strong and had tied it up 54-54 at halftime.
Mitchell erupted for 16 points in the third quarter as the Cavaliers seized control, taking the first double-digit lead of the night for either team on Darius Garland’s three-pointer midway through the period that put Cleveland up 77-66.
Cleveland finished with 13 three-pointers while Boston made just eight on 35 attempts. The Celtics, who led the league with 64 regular-season wins, were 0-for-8 from three-point range in the third quarter.
The Cavs, up by 12 going into the fourth, pressed their advantage, as Mitchell drained three straight baskets that included a spinning drive for a hook shot that made it 99-83.
Celtics masterclass blow Cleveland away | 00:39
By the time Tatum was called for a flagrant foul — when his arm made contact with LaVert’s head on a play that pushed Cleveland’s lead to 24 points — fans were streaming out of T.D. Garden arena.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla pulled his starters, with Tatum finishing with 25 points and Jaylen Brown adding 19.
“Everybody did their job,” Mitchell said, heaping praise on Mobley, who started in place of injured center Jarrett Allen.
“To come out here on the road as a young player, that’s a big-time performance to set the tone for us.”
Now, Mitchell said, the Cavs need to keep the pressure on when the series shifts to Cleveland for game three on Sunday.
“At the end of the day, it’s one win,” Mitchell said. “We’ve got to do it at the crib.”
— AFP
Oklahoma City Thunder Face Tough Decisions After Game 2 Loss to Mavericks
ESPN’s Zach Lowe highlighted the pivotal role of Josh Giddey in the Western Conference semi-finals series against the Dallas Mavericks, stating that the Thunder’s fate hinges on the young Australian guard’s performance.
In the recent game, Giddey struggled, leading to a season-low 11 minutes of play as the Thunder fell to a 119-110 defeat against the Mavericks. Despite an impressive showing in the previous round against New Orleans, Giddey has faced challenges in the current series, particularly on the defensive end.
Coach Mark Daigneault now faces a dilemma on how to allocate playing time for Giddey moving forward, with other players like Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, and rookie Cason Wallace vying for increased minutes.
While Giddey’s performance was under scrutiny, fellow Australian Josh Green shone for the Mavericks, contributing 11 points and showcasing his shooting prowess from beyond the arc.
The game saw Luka Doncic and P.J. Washington leading the charge for Dallas, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up an impressive performance for the Thunder with 33 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists.
Despite a strong start by the Mavericks, the Thunder fought back in the second quarter, with Jaylin Williams making significant contributions on both ends of the floor. However, Dallas regained control and maintained their lead throughout the game.
As the series is now tied, the Thunder must regroup and make strategic adjustments to counter the Mavericks’ tactics and improve their chances of advancing to the next round.
Cavaliers Respond with Convincing Victory Over Celtics
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers delivered a commanding performance to level the series against the top-seeded Boston Celtics. Donovan Mitchell led the charge with 29 points, supported by Evan Mobley and Caris LeVert.
The Cavaliers displayed a balanced offensive attack, with six players scoring in double figures and a strong defensive effort that limited the Celtics’ three-point shooting. Cleveland’s aggressive mindset and execution proved to be the difference in the game.
With the series now shifting to Cleveland for the next game, the Cavaliers aim to maintain their momentum and capitalize on their home-court advantage to take the lead in the series.
Both the Thunder and the Cavaliers face critical decisions and adjustments as they navigate the challenges of the NBA playoffs, with the ultimate goal of advancing to the conference finals.
