Luka Doncic finished with 31 points and delivered his second consecutive triple-double as the Dallas Mavericks moved one victory away from their second Western Conference finals appearance in three seasons with a 104-92 victory over the host Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.
The Mavericks now hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven, second-round series as they head home for Game 6 on Saturday. Doncic, who has been playing through multiple injuries throughout the playoffs, also recorded 10 rebounds and 11 assists in a stellar performance.
Derrick Jones Jr. contributed 19 points for the Mavericks, while P.J. Washington added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Dereck Lively II came off the Dallas bench to provide 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Kyrie Irving chipped in with 12 points.
😤5️⃣5️⃣😤 https://t.co/eyvhscK7RV pic.twitter.com/rSh9N1bRFh
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) May 16, 2024
Dallas managed to bounce back effectively after a 100-96 defeat in Game 4 on Monday, where they had blown a 14-point third-quarter lead and an eight-point advantage with less than eight minutes remaining. The Mavericks have now gone 4-0 after losses this postseason, showcasing their resilience.
For the top-seeded Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 30 points, and Chet Holmgren added 13. Jalen Williams and Luguentz Dort each scored 12 points, but Oklahoma City never led after the first quarter, now facing the daunting task of needing to win consecutive games to advance.