Dallas Mavericks fight off a late charge from the Oklahoma City Thunder to take the game-3, 93-87
The Dallas Mavericks dominated the game-3 of the Western Conference Finals from the very start to take a vital 2-1 lead, one which once again handed them the home court advantage. The Oklahoma City (OKC) Thunder made a late charge
to salvage something from the game but came up short, losing the game 93 – 87.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were the only two players who got into double figures for the Thunder. Durant scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Westbrook scored a game high 30 points but also had 7 turnovers.
For the Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion had identical figures with 18 points and 4 rebounds. Both players also made one assist each. Tyson Chandler was huge on the glass as he hauled down 15 rebounds and scored
8 points. Jason Kidd scored 13 and dished out 8 assists while Jason Terry came off the bench to provide 13 as well.
The Mavericks were dominant right from the beginning, going on a 10 – 2 run that set the tempo for the game. They never relinquished their lead after that. The Mavs just kept raining down the shots and also got important stops
in as they restricted Oklahoma City to just 12 points in the quarter. The first period ended at 27 – 12.
Dallas started the next quarter by scoring eight without reply, stretching their lead to a game high 23 with around ten minutes remaining in the first half. Kevin Durant struggled in the second, making just 1-of-5 off the field.
Russell Westbrook however stepped up to hit 10 but it wasn’t enough for the Thunder as they trailed again at the end of the first half, 52 – 36.
Oklahoma City were better defensively, coming out of the interval. They held Dallas to18 points in the 3rd quarter; however their offense still failed to get going. The Mavericks did a good job of stifling Durant and
James Harden and the quarter again failed to produce meaningful change for the Thunder, ending at 56 – 70.
Russell Westbrook had 14 and Kevin Durant scored 9 in the final period as the Oklahoma City Thunder mounted a final charge to chase down the Mavericks. However, the Mavs lead proved too much for OKC, who were undone at the end
by some clutch shooting by Dirk Nowitzki and solid execution by Dallas. Jason Terry stole the ball and ran out the clock on the final possession to see the game out at 93 – 87.
Dallas Mavericks now lead the series 2-1.
Tags: