The Mavericks defeated the Thunder 117-116 to advance to the Western Conference Finals 4-2! Irving set an all-time NBA record with a 14-0 record in games with match points. It's fair to say that once you're on match point by Irving, wait for death. Today did illustrate that, the Mavericks played a tough game. Although the Thunder can say a word, they are still honored, and they fight until the last moment. Even the Thunder were going to bring the game back to their home court at one point.
From the beginning of the first quarter, the Thunder went on a ferocious offense, hitting three pointers from the outside to hit a 16-6 climax. But Doncic began to exert force, he and Alexander went head-to-head, and the Mavericks kept chasing points, and chased down only 7 points in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Alexander scored six points in a row, and the Thunder once again opened the difference. Jew's step up in this game, coupled with Holmgren's dominance on the inside, the Thunder already led by 16 points at halftime. Seeing that the game was going to take place, Irving finally broke out in the third quarter, and he and Doncic led the team to a 13-0 attack wave, and the Mavericks only trailed by seven points into the final quarter.
In the final quarter, the two sides went on bayonets, and Irving continued to explode, locking Alexander on the defensive end, and being very selfless on the offensive end, forcing the basket to help Lively score. Under Irving's attack, the Mavericks overtook him. But Jay Wei felt hot, and he hit a key three-pointer to overtake the difference. Then the two sides confronted each other, Alexander attacked, and Washington returned the color. In the final minute, the Thunder relied on Holmgren's dunk to lead the Mavericks by one point. But then Alexander made a mistake, Doncic crushed the basket with the ball, the Thunder two smashed, he panicked and split the ball Washington, Alexander was deceived into making up the defense, and finally the hitter was whistled for a three-point foul.
Washington hit the first two free throws, the Mavericks overtook by 1 point, and the last free throw Washington deliberately did not score, consuming a second, and the Thunder, who did not pause, could only throw one in the backcourt but did not touch the frame, and the Mavericks narrowly won and advanced. The Thunder did their best for the game, with Holmgren scoring 21 points, Jayway 22 and Alexander 36. On the Mavericks' side, Doncic had a triple-double of 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, Irving had 22 points, Jones had 22 points, and Lively had 12 points and 15 boards.
After the game, Irving and Doncic hugged for a long time to celebrate, and this is also the second time that Irving has reached the division finals after the Cavaliers and James won the championship. After the game, the American media also posted the Nets' Big Three, Irving Harden and Durant, and commented that Irving was the first to reach the division finals after the disintegration of the Big Three. Sometimes we can only say that fate is like this, and the current Maverick configuration is too similar to the 18-year peak rocket. Doncic is Harden, Irving is Paul, Washington is Tucker, Lively is Capela, and Jones is Ariza.
Doncic has a big core with the ball and a attacker around him, which is too similar to the 48 minutes of Harden and Paul Bulbs leading the team indefinitely. Two singles players can be connected in series, and two 3D pitchers are configured around them, and one eats cake on the inside. Looking at the current situation of the Mavericks, Harden has no taste in his heart. In 21 years, he left the Rockets to join the Nets, and in 4 seasons, Harden can be described as losing both money and money. Rejected the Rockets' 2-year, 100 million contract extension, and the Nets' 3-year, 160 million contract.
Then the Nets, Philadelphia and Clippers flowed, and the playoffs went from the second round to the first round of this year, so to speak, Harden went around and didn't get anything, and the big contract flew away. To be honest, it's better to have a good discussion with Paul after being eliminated by the Warriors in 19 and continue to work together. After all, the Warriors also disintegrated that offseason that year, and if they didn't trade Paul for Wei Shao, they kept him. Then the Rockets, who continue to keep the light bulb combination, may have a chance to win the championship in those years. Of course, in an afterthought, there is no chance to do it again in life, and what Harden needs to worry about now is the renewal of his contract this year.