Thunder vs Mavericks recap: Luka Doncic, Dallas even up NBA playoff series vs OKC at 1-1
The No. 1-seeded OKC Thunder will host the No. 5 Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
OKC holds a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. It earned a 117-95 home win over Dallas in Game 1 on Tuesday.
Here's what you need to know about the matchup:
More: Mussatto: Thunder facing first true adversity in NBA playoffs after Game 2 loss to Mavs
Thunder vs. Mavericks live score updates
More: Mussatto: How Aaron Wiggins, Thunder bench fueled Game 1 rout of Mavericks in NBA playoffs
Thunder vs. Mavericks highlights
More: How Lu Dort defended Luka Doncic like a 'warrior' for Thunder vs Mavericks in Game 1 win
Final: Mavericks 119, Thunder 110 | Dallas ties series at 1-1
OKC takes its first loss of these playoffs and its first since April 5th, a 119-110 Game 2 loss. Luka didn’t look like the Luka of Tuesday or last round. 29 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists. PJ Washington kills the corner, has 29. Thunder never found that final gear in the 4th.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
More: Thunder vs Mavericks takeaways: Luka Doncic, 3-point shooting deliver Dallas a Game 2 win
End 3Q: Mavericks 99, Thunder 89 | Tim Hardaway Jr. takes over for Dallas
Dallas leading 99-89 going into the fourth. Probably gonna be on the Dub lineup to swing this game. Mavs have had some good responses, including that THJ run. PJ Washington hasn’t lost his touch.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
2:44 left in 3Q: Mavericks 94, Thunder 81
Just a deflating play and sequence from Tim Hardaway Jr. Four-point play in transition, and Cason Wallace played it like he knew it was coming. 10 straight points for him.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Aaron Wiggins starts second half in place of Josh Giddey for Thunder
Giddey posted a plus-minus of -14 in just eight minutes played in the first half.
Halftime: Mavericks 68, Thunder 62 | Luka Doncic, Dallas holding OKC at bay so far
Dallas with a 68-62 lead at half. Luka has looked more like Luka tonight. 7 for 11, making masterful reads — easy ones, really. The corner is open, as it tends to be with OKC. PJ Washington has made a living out there. Mavs 12 for 24 from deep. Shai with 18, Dub with 14. OKC responded well to that early deficit.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Late 2Q: Daniel Gafford injures hand
Something happened to Gafford’s hand on the block a couple minutes back. After his miss there, looked like he went straight to the locker room.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
3:30 left in 2Q: Mavericks 59, Thunder 51 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC chipping away at Dallas lead
Game of runs. Luka spins Dort out of the frame, misses. Shai snatches some feet from his defender, cash. OKC down 8.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Another day, another dollar (or $20K) for a Thunder fan in contest
The Thunder might have the best shooting fans in the NBA. For the third time in four playoff games, a Thunder fan has made a halfcourt contest shot.
—Jeff Patterson, Staff writer
For the third time this postseason 🤯
Congrats to Matt Sanders of OKC, who is leaving with $20,000 after draining the @MidFirst Bank half-court shot 💰 pic.twitter.com/SBUrGBtUVQ— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 10, 2024
End 1Q: Mavericks 36, Thunder 32 | Luka Doncic is on a mission
Dallas ahead 36-32 after 1. Luka Doncic’s world so far: 16 points, endless stepbacks, more whistles at this point than last game. The corner 3s are corner 3ing. Mavs 8 for 13 from deep. Really, really good quarter for the JWill-Chet lineup. Dug OKC out an early hole. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 10 points.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
8:50 left in 1Q: Mavericks 13, Thunder 4 | Luka Doncic off to hot start
Luka is here. On a heater to start this game. Couple step back 3s, probing in the PNR, a great lob to Gafford against a relaxed defense. He’s had his hands on everything.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Kyler Murray latest celeb at Thunder-Mavericks playoff series
Two days after one OU great was spotted courtside for Thunder-Mavericks at Paycom Center, former Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray has an up-close view of Game 2 on Thursday night.
The former OU football star was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals, where he remains the starting quarterback.
Former OU basketball star Trae Young was at Game 1 on Tuesday.
—Jeff Patterson, Staff writer
Kyler Murray is in the building pic.twitter.com/9JOF3hRnuU
— Justin Martinez (@JTheSportsDude) May 10, 2024
Mark Daigneault reacts to NBA MVP results
Denver’s Nikola Jokic was the runaway winner of the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award, but there was a real race for second between Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dallas’ Luka Doncic.
Gilgeous-Alexander received 15 first-place votes to Doncic’s four, and 40 second-place votes to Doncic’s 36.
Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder edged Doncic and the Mavericks in Game 1, and SGA beat Doncic in the MVP race.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was asked before Game 2 Thursday about the results.
“I was really rooting for him,” Daigneault said of SGA. “I’ve said this before, but I don’t think the individual awards validate anything in terms of the work that’s been done with any of our players, all the guys who have been up for awards.
“It doesn’t change the fact that he had a great two-end season, a great regular season, unprecedented numbers, and the impact that he’s had on our team not only this season but over the course of this build, you can’t even measure. An award wouldn’t change any of those things.”
Gilgeous-Alexander has logged back-to-back top-five MVP finishes. He finished fifth for the award last season.
—Joe Mussatto, Staff writer
OKC Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks NBA playoffs Game 2 predictions
Justin Martinez, The Oklahoman
The Thunder checked off all the boxes in its blowout Game 1 win.
OKC held Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to a combined 39 points. It picked apart an improved Dallas defense. It showcased its depth by scoring 42 bench points.
It's worth noting that Dallas lost Game 1 to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round only to win the series, 4-2. The Mavericks know how to adjust, but the Thunder should still be able to take care of business at home on Thursday.
Prediction: Thunder 108, Mavericks 102
More: Why is OKC Thunder playing deep rotations in NBA playoffs? Mark Daigneault explains
Game 2: How to watch OKC Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks
Date: Thursday, May 9
Time: 8:30 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: Sling (watch for free)
More: OKC Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is runner-up in NBA MVP voting to Nikola Jokic
Injury report for OKC Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks
OKC Thunder injury report
None
Dallas Mavericks injury report
Maxi Kleber (right shoulder sprain) is out. Olivier Maxence-Prosper (left ankle sprain) is out. Luka Doncic (right knee sprain) is probable.
More: At 16, Sam Presti wrote letter saying Celtics should draft Jason Kidd: 'He was right'
Projected OKC Thunder starting lineup
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.2 APG)
Josh Giddey (12.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 4.8 APG)
Lu Dort (10.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.4 APG)
Jalen Williams (19.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.5 APG)
Chet Holmgren (16.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.4 APG)
More: Was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander snubbed in NBA MVP voting? Shaquille O'Neal thinks so
Projected Dallas Mavericks starting lineup
Luka Doncic (33.9 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 9.8 APG)
Kyrie Irving (25.6 PPG, 5 RPG, 5.2 APG)
Derrick Jones Jr. (8.6 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1 APG)
P.J. Washington (11.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.5 APG)
Daniel Gafford (11.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.6 APG)
More: Luka Doncic continues playoff struggles in Mavs' loss to Thunder: 'I've got to be better'
OKC Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks playoff series schedule
Game 1: OKC 117, Dallas 95
Game 2: 8:30 p.m. Thursday in OKC (ESPN)
Game 3: 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Dallas (ABC)
Game 4: 8:30 p.m. Monday in Dallas (TNT)
Game 5 (if necessary): TBD Wednesday, May 15, in OKC (TNT)
Game 6 (if necessary): 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, in Dallas (ESPN)
Game 7 (if necessary): 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 20, in OKC (TNT)
More: OKC Thunder fan gets warning for interaction with Kyrie Irving in Game 1 vs. Mavericks
OKC Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks regular-season series record
OKC won the regular-season series, 3-1.
More: Mussatto: Why Thunder vs Mavericks is the NBA rivalry we have longed for
OKC Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks NBA playoffs Game 2 betting odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, May 9
Spread: OKC (-4.5)
Over/under: 218.5
Moneyline: OKC -200 | Dallas +165
More: 2018 NBA Re-Draft: Would Luka Doncic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go No. 1?
2024 NBA playoffs
First-round picks: Celtics vs Heat | Knicks vs 76ers | Bucks vs Pacers | Cavaliers vs Magic | Thunder vs Pelicans | Nuggets vs Lakers | Timberwolves vs Suns | Clippers vs Mavericks
Second-round picks: Thunder vs Mavericks | Nuggets vs Timberwolves | Celtics vs Cavaliers | Knicks vs Pacers
More: 2024 NBA playoffs: Complete schedule, bracket breakdown, how to watch
More OKC Thunder news
Mussatto: OKC Thunder at base of second mountain, ready for another climb up NBA ranks
Dawg pound: Why do Thunder players bark in postgame interviews? Jalen Williams explains
Mussatto: Fair or not, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be judged by Thunder success in NBA playoffs
Age is a number: Is OKC too young to win in playoffs? Here's what Shai Gilgeous-Alexander says
What to know: With Thunder back in NBA playoffs for first time since 2020, here are 4 things to know
NBA power rankings entering playoffs: Can OKC Thunder survive the West to reach finals?
Roster management: How Sam Presti put together OKC Thunder's 2023-24 NBA playoff team
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder can't slow down Luka Doncic, Mavericks in Game 2 loss