We have a series. Despite leading by as many as 14 and controlling most of the game, the Dallas Mavericks were unable to close out Game 4 as it was the Oklahoma City Thunder staging a fourth-quarter rally to pull out a 100-96 victory to even the series at two games apiece.
OKC got a superstar performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who carded 34 points along with eight rebounds and five assists. Chet Holmgren added 18 of his own along with nine rebounds and four blocks.
It was an inefficient night for Luka Doncic, who scored 18 points on 6-of-20 shooting, including 2-of-9 from 3 with seven turnovers. Kyrie Irving was again quiet with just nine points, though he did have nine assists. P.J. Washington was again terrific with 21 points and five 3-pointers.
The series will now shift back to OKC for a pivotal Game 5 on Wednesday. Below are four takeaways from Game 4:
Gilgeous-Alexander carried the Thunder to this win in every sense. He led the way with 34 points (his playoff career high), sinking methodical midrange jumper after methodical midrange jumper (including one from legitimately behind the backboard) down the stretch as OKC struggled for the majority of the game to find points from beyond the arc (26% as a team) or at the rim (35% as a team). In money time, SGA scored or assisted on 18 of OKC's final 22 points over the game's final six minutes. Just flat out superstar stuff.
I'm not being exaggerative. Luka, despite a triple-double box score of 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, was truly awful in this game. The Thunder are clearly frustrating him with their physicality and multiple defenders tracking him everywhere. He's looking to the refs for bailouts in his typical fashion, however, the calls aren't coming and Doncic is not creating any kind of consistent downhill leverage. Ultimately, Doncic finished with more turnovers (7) than made shots (6) and missed a free throw with 10 seconds left that potentially could've sent the game to overtime. He might still be nursing an injury, but the Mavericks need every bit of their superstar.
As mentioned, the Mavericks more or less shut off the Thunder at the rim (Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively and Derrick Jones Jr. combined for 12 of Dallas' 13 blocked shots). In addition, Dallas outscored OKC by 12 in the paint and 12 from beyond the arc. Dallas had more rebounds. More assists.
So where, you ask, did the Thunder win this game? At the free-throw line, where they made 23-of-24 to Dallas' 12-of-23. OKC did win the 3-point battle 12-3 in the fourth and, again, SGA owned crunch time. However, all of that notwithstanding, if Dallas just makes its free throws, it most likely wins this game. Doncic's aforementioned miss with 10 seconds left was a microcosm of the whole night for Dallas.
With 6:36 remaining in the fourth quarter, with the Thunder trailing by seven, Lu Dort missed a 3-pointer and after Jaylin Williams came down with the offensive rebound, the ball was slapped out of his hands. The call on the court was Dallas ball, but Williams insisted the ball had actually deflected off Dallas' Derrick Jones Jr. last. OKC coach Mark Daigneault trusted his guy, challenged the call, and won. That's where the game swung.
Again, at that point, the Thunder were down seven with the ball going back to Dallas. Instead, OKC retains possession and the other (Jalen) Williams immediately scored a 3-point play the old-fashioned way to cut the Dallas lead to four. OKC went on to make nine of its next 11 shots, turning a seven-point deficit into a five-point lead in just over five minutes.
*Series tied 2-2
Gilgeous-Alexander is trying to almost single-handedly carry the Thunder to a win in Game 4 with midrange bucket after midrange bucket. LKC down two with under five minutes to play.
OKC has made just five 3-pointers to Dallas' 11 tonight. That's an 18-point advantage for Dallas from beyond the arc. Throw in the 13 blocks Dallas has, and OKC has more or less been shut off at the rim, too. In other words, the Thunder are trying to beats 3s with 2s, and tough 2s at that. How many midrange shots can SGA make?
This is one to watch. Irving has four fouls just two minutes into the third quarter. Looks like Jason Kidd is leaving him in for the time being, trusting he can continue to play the good defense he's been playing all series without fouling. Might be a tough ask. Expect Jalen Williams to go at him with physicality.
Isaiah Joe gets the start in Josh Giddey's place to start the second half. Joe will provide shooting and spacing for OKC's pentetrators. Giddey was being ignored, again.
Kyrie Irving scored nine points in Dallas' Game 2 win and had just 12 through the first three quarters of Game 3. With under five minutes to play in Game 4, he has just two points. But he's a game-high plus-19. He's defending, as he has been all series, and creating opportunities for others with seven assists. For Dallas, what a luxury to have a scorer the caliber of Irving hanging in the background while you still build a lead until it's time to put his foot on the gas in the second half.
Derek Lively limped to the locker room after he checked out late in the first quarter, but he's back on the bench and just gave a thumbs-up. Good news for Dallas.
Luka looks spry and the Mavericks are the more energetic team by a landslide to open. OKC yet to hit a 3-pointer. Dallas has three, including another from P.J. Washington, who has been torching the Thunder the past two games.
