Oklahoma City Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks Game 4 results

• Oklahoma City Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks Game 4 in the playoffs was a basketball masterpiece
• The Monday night match saw Oklahoma City Thunder thump Dallas Mavericks 100-96
• Josh Giddey, a rookie guard for Thunder was the team’s unexpected hero

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks Game 4 in the playoffs was a basketball masterpiece.

The Monday night match saw Oklahoma City Thunder thump Dallas Mavericks 100-96. With this victory in the fourth quarter of the playoff series, Thunder avoided elimination by tying the Western Conference semifinals at 2-2.

How Was Oklahoma City Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks Game 4?

In Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals, the Oklahoma City Thunder stunned the Dallas Mavericks on their home court by winning tenaciously, 100-96.

With the victory, the Thunder took a decisive 3-1 series lead and put the Mavericks in danger of losing. Josh Giddey, a rookie guard for Thunder was the team’s unexpected hero.

Giddey filled in for the injured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, scoring a career-high 28 points, including a game-winning three-pointer with 30 seconds left.

Oklahoma City Thunder rookie guard Josh Giddey. Photo/Mavs Moneyball

For the Thunder, veteran forward Danilo Gallinari scored 22 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, being a steadying influence in the closing minutes.

In Oklahoma City Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks Game 4, the Mavericks had offensive struggles the whole game despite being led by 32 points and 12 assists from Luka Doncic.

Still, even with numerous fouls, Kristaps Porzingis managed to score 18 points but was mainly unproductive. Just 8 of Dallas’ 32 shots from beyond the arc were made; the team’s usually lethal three-point shooting fell silent.

The third quarter was the turning point.  Thunder defence tightened up when they were behind by ten points, pressuring Doncic into mistakes and aggravating him.

Thunder took a definite lead in the middle of the period with a 12-2 run. Just about a minute remained in the game, the Mavericks rallied to equalize it, but Giddey’s heroics crushed their dreams.

Did Oklahoma City Thunder Struggle Against Dallas Mavericks?

Oklahoma City Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks Game 4 bagged victory for the Thunder but the untold truth is that it was a struggle. Dallas Mavericks’ defence was tight and nearly thwarted their victory.

However, Mavericks All-Stars Dončić and Kyrie Irving struggled offensively while Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City Thunder flourished.

With 34 points, Gilgeous-Alexander stole the show in a game that was a struggle for both teams. He propelled the Thunder’s 9-0 fourth-quarter run to put them ahead, 89-86, after helping them overcome a 22-8 first-quarter hole.

Dončić had an opportunity to tie the game from the free-throw line in the last seconds of Game 4. With 10.1 seconds left and Dallas trailing 96-94, he missed the front end of two shots.

With 1.4 seconds left, Gilgeous-Alexander made two more free throws to ice the game and guarantee a four-point victory.

Driven by P.J. Washington and a strong performance in the paint, Dallas established an early lead. After the first quarter, the Mavericks led 30–20, and at the half; they were up 54–43.

Having a 13-5 rebounding lead in the first quarter and a 22-17 advantage at the half, they did much of their early work on the boards. By halftime, they had racked up nine blocks while limiting the Thunder to 34.9% shooting from the field.

How Did Oklahoma City Thunder Win Against Dallas Mavericks?

Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder. Photo/DraftKings Network

In response, the Thunder shut down the Mavericks’ offensive in the third quarter, allowing them to score just 15 points.

The Thunder ended the quarter on a 22-12 run led by Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 12 points, reducing the lead to 69-65 at the beginning of the fourth.

For the majority of the fourth quarter, Dallas led, but in the last six minutes, Gilgeous-Alexander took charge of the game. In an effort to pull the Thunder back into the game, he scored eight straight Thunder points and made many contested jumpers.

The game was knotted at 86-86 thanks to his baseline teardrop shot over Tim Hardaway Jr. and Washington.

The Thunder took a 9-0 rally, led by a 3-pointer from Chet Holmgren off a Gilgeous-Alexander pass, to take their first lead since 4-2 in the opening quarter at 89-86. They didn’t give it up.

Mark Daigneault, the Oklahoma City Thunder coach said he was aware his team would not have it easy. He praised Giddey for coming through in their victory against the Mavericks.

Game 5 of the series will take place in Oklahoma City on Thursday. The Mavericks are under intense pressure to win three games in a row to avoid an early exit from the playoffs.