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Final score: Dallas Mavericks beat Oklahoma Thunder, 105-103
Stats:
Mavericks: Field Goals 37-81 (45.7%), 62 rebounds, 21 assists, 8 steals.
Thunder: Field Goals 40-93 (43.0%), 47 rebounds, 17 assists, 15 steals.
This game proved to be a nail-biter in true sense in the final quarter where both the teams were going at each other possession after possession. It wasn't until the final second, final shot of the match that the winner was decided.
Dennis Smith Jr. who came off an 11 match break due to sprained right wrist lost it to Pelicans two days as he missed a game-deciding buzzer beater.
But this night was his as he contributed at both the ends in clutch moments of the match. With 30 seconds left on the game clock, he danced his way for an amazing go-ahead lay-up and also defended a shot against Paul George in the clutch. He scored 14 points in 27 minutes plus the clutch plays to seal the win. The rookie sensation Luka Doncic led the Mavs with 25 points.
Paul George led the Thunder with 36 points and 5 rebounds. He scored last 13 points for the Thunder, shot decisive jumpers in the closing minutes but couldn't convert the last shot which could have won it for the Thunder. Westbrook had a disastrous night and was able to score only 9 points, converting 2 off 22 attempts from the field.
Here are the talking points from the match.
#3 Back-court magic returns to Mavs
Dallas Mavericks are the happiest to have Dennis Smith Jr. back in action after a lag of 11 games. The young duo contributed for 39 points with some amazing highlights of throwing dimes and posting tough shots as they always do.
Smith now back in action from past two games has shown good signs and scored 14 points in last two match-ups. The prodigy Luka Doncic has been magical than anyone ever expected, contributed 25 points in this game. He scored new career-high 34-points in the loss against the Pelicans on Saturday.
As the NBA is witnessing blurred lines when it comes to playing positions, these two young guns of the Mavs are going to be eye-candies to watch. It will be early to say, but as the All-Star weekend is getting nearer it is also being expected to see either of the two in the All-Star uniforms for the first time.
#2 Russell Westbrook and his offensive struggles
Westbrook ended with 9 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists in the loss against the Mavs. It was the first time since April 12, 2017, that Westbrook didn't finish in double figures in at least one of those three categories. He went a poor 4-22 from the field.
Shooting has been a major problem with Westbrook this season. He is nearing his worst shooting percentage (42.1) and three-point percentage (24.2) since 2009-10. In this match, he shot 8 shots from the 3-point arc and missed all of them.
Westbrook doesn't shy away from taking it hard on himself and went on to say that it's on him if OKC suffers.
"I've just got to do a better job, man," Westbrook said. "It's really on me. I've been s--t the last month or so. I've just got to get focused in and locked back in on what I need to do. I've got to help my guys out. I've been letting them down, man, just not being consistent on the offensive end."
When Paul George who scored a game-high 36 points was asked if he has any advice for Westbrook, he simply answered, "To stay aggressive".
#1 Impactful double-double by DeAndre Jordan
It is always a tough task for a center to play against one of the best rebounding teams in the league, the Oklahoma City Thunder. But in his performance on Sunday, Jordan completely dominated the glass and finished with 17 rebounds. He finished with 12 points to complete a double-double along with two blocks, two steals and one assist in 33 minutes of play.
It is the sixth time in the last nine games that he has grabbed at least 15 rebounds. He is averaging a double-double this season with 11.3 points and 14.3 rebounds.
The veteran came with a huge highlight in the dying minutes of the last quarter first by picking the Paul George's pocket and then dunking over him.
The two teams will meet again on Monday at the Ford Center in Oklahoma. As the Thunder will look to settle the score with home court advantage and the Mavs will look to push the momentum forward, the next game will have a playoff game kind-of atmosphere.
