The Dallas Mavericks secured a thrilling 117-116 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, advancing to the Western Conference finals for the second time in three seasons. P.J. Washington Jr. played a crucial role in the win, making two free throws before intentionally missing a shot with 2.5 seconds left to seal the victory.
Luka Doncic shined with a triple-double, scoring 29 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with five lead changes and two ties in the final five minutes of play.
The Mavericks, who trailed by 17 points in the third quarter, managed to rally back and secure the series win in Game 6 at home. Kyrie Irving, who remains undefeated in closeout games, praised the team’s resilience in overcoming the deficit.
Washington, who had a slow start but came up big in the fourth quarter, hit crucial shots to help Dallas secure the win. The Mavericks will now face the winner of the Denver-Minnesota series in the Western Conference finals.
Oklahoma City, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 36 points, put up a tough fight but ultimately fell short. Despite their early success in the playoffs, the Thunder lost four out of five games after a strong start.
The Mavericks’ trade-deadline acquisitions of Washington and Daniel Gafford proved to be pivotal, propelling the team to success in the postseason. With a revamped roster and a renewed sense of determination, Dallas looks poised to make a deep playoff run.