In the NBA Western Conference semifinals on May 16, a battle between the Mavericks and the Thunder unfolded between the Mavericks and the Thunder. The two teams had previously won two games each in the series, so this game will be crucial for both sides, and whoever can win this crucial battle will have the upper hand in the series.
As soon as the game began, the Mavericks showed a strong desire to win. Their key player, Doncic, has played well, not only in attack, but also in organising the team. Under his leadership, the Mavericks led by two points in the first quarter at 24-22. Entering the second quarter, the Mavericks continued to expand their results, and they led by 8 points at 30-22 in a single quarter with better teamwork and a more stable offensive rhythm. By the end of the first half, the Mavericks had a 10-point lead over the Thunder.
The Thunder didn't play well in the first half. Although their core player Alexander, who also performed well, the other players were inconsistent and the team's overall attack was lackluster. Especially on the defensive end, the Thunder didn't defend the Mavericks' key players tightly enough, giving opponents too many easy scoring opportunities. Heading into the second half, the Thunder tried to turn the tables by tweaking their tactics and personnel. However, the Mavericks didn't give them much of a chance. Doncic continued to play well in the third quarter, not only scoring on the offensive end, but also aggressively fighting on the defensive end to maintain the lead for his team. With his leadership, the Mavericks had a 12-point lead by the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter of the game, although the Thunder launched a stubborn counterattack, they were never able to narrow the gap because the hole dug in front was too big. In the end, the Mavericks ended the battle of Tianwang Mountain with a victory and took the lead in the series. Statistically, Doncic is undoubtedly the MVP of this game. He shot 10-of-17 from the field and finished with 28 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. His performance is not only reflected in the scoring, but also in the overall contribution to the team. His outstanding play made the Mavericks more fluid on the offensive end, and also led to an overall morale boost for the team. In contrast, Alexander, the core player of the Thunder team, although he also performed well, was still slightly inferior to Doncic. He finished with 24 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists on 10-of-18 shooting. However, at crucial moments, he was not able to step up and lead the team around the game like Doncici did.
In addition to the performance of the core players, the Thunder also exposed other problems in this game. One of the most obvious is the team's overall defensive weakness. Against a team like the Mavericks, who have multiple scoring points, the Thunder's defense looks too loose and gives opponents too many scoring opportunities. Especially in terms of outside defense, the Thunder's performance is even worse, allowing the Mavericks' outside players to frequently succeed. The Thunder also have some issues on the offensive end. Their offense is too reliant on the play of individual players, and once those players are restricted or don't feel good, the offense of the whole team comes to a standstill. In contrast, the Mavericks' offense is more diverse, scoring both inside and outside, which also makes their offense more difficult to limit by opponents. In this battle of Tianwang Mountain, Dort's performance also became an important reason for the Thunder's loss. As one of the team's key players, Dort's performance in the game was sluggish, scoring just 9 points on 3-of-8 shooting. Defensively, he hasn't been able to help the team much. Such a performance obviously did not meet the team's expectations of him, and also made his status in the hearts of the fans greatly reduced.
Dort have been rather sluggish in their last two games. This not only affected the team's overall performance, but also caused fans to start questioning his ability and form. There is an argument that the Thunder should perhaps consider trading Dort in the offseason in exchange for a player who is a better fit for the team's system. Of course, this is just the advice of the fans, and the final decision needs to be made by the team management. Overall, this battle of Tianwang Mountain is undoubtedly an important victory for the Mavericks. Not only did they win the race, but they also won the series. And for the Thunder, the loss of this game is undoubtedly a wake-up call for them. They will need to take the lessons learned from this game and adjust their tactics and personnel in order to bounce back in the upcoming games. For the general reader, the game also provides a great perspective to observe NBA games. Through this match, we can see how a team adjusts its tactics at key moments, plays the role of core players, and responds to the challenges of opponents. At the same time, we can also see how the performance of the players in the game affects the overall record of the team.
The match also reminded us that in competitive sports, victory often goes to teams that are better prepared and play better. The reason why the Mavericks were able to win this game is inseparable from their usual training and preparation, as well as their excellent performance in the game. Although the Thunder lost the game, they also have the opportunity to adjust their form and regain their touch in the next games, and strive for better results. For basketball lovers, this game is even more of a visual feast. We can see the skill and tenacity of the players on the pitch.