At 3:30 a.m. Beijing time on May 12, the Mavericks faced the Thunder at home in the third round of the Western Conference semifinals of the 23-24 NBA playoffs.
Briefing on the competition
At the end of the first half, the Mavericks trailed the Thunder by one point 51:52; Coming back in the second half, the Mavericks overtook the Thunder by four points at 82:78 at the end of the third quarter, and the Mavericks led the Thunder by five points at 100:95 in the last three minutes of the fourth quarter. The Thunder slashed Lively's tactics and let Lively keep making free throws, but Lively made 4 of four free throws, and then stopped chopping, and finally the Mavericks narrowly beat the Thunder at home, leading the Thunder 2-1 in the overall score.
Thunder player stats
Alexander: 8-of-10 from two-point range, 2-of-3 from three-point range and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line to finish with 31 points, 10 rebounds and six assists
Holmgren: 5-of-7 from two-point range, 0-of-2 from three-point range, 3-of-5 from the free-throw line, 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists
Jalen Williams: 6-of-10 two-pointers, 1-of-2 three-pointers, 1-of-2 free throws, 16 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists
Isaiah Joe: 2-of-3 from two-point range and 3-of-4 from three-point range, finishing with 13 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists
Mavericks player stats
Doncic: 6-of-13 two-pointers, 1-of-4 three-pointers, 7-of-10 free throws, 22 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists
Irving: 8-of-11 two-pointers and 2-of-6 three-pointers for 22 points, five rebounds and seven assists
PJ Washington: 6-of-11 two-pointers, 5-of-12 three-pointers, 27 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists
Lively: 2-of-7 from two-point range and 8-of-12 from the free-throw line, finishing with 12 points, eight rebounds and one assist.