For the first time in eight years, the Oklahoma City Thunder played in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
OKC played host to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, which earned its spot in the semifinals by taking down the Los Angeles Clippers in six games.
After two-and-a-half back-and-forth quarters, OKC took control, defeating Dallas 117-95 behind a brilliant 29-point performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Both teams came out of the gate slowly. OKC had a couple of uncharacteristic turnovers, and outside of Doncic, Dallas struggled to generate offense for the first few minutes, while also turning the ball over with frequency. Jalen Williams missed several open looks, as did Kyrie Irving, and both offenses in general found themselves struggling for the duration of the first quarter. The teams ended the quarter tied at 23.
Two three-pointers from Aaron Wiggins got OKC a four-point lead within the first minute of the second, but Irving quickly erased it, and the Thunder offense reverted to its first quarter performance. Eventually, OKC fought out of the cold streak, and one beloved role player was the reason why.
While OKC’s big three have so often been the heroes this season, Tuesday was different. Aaron Wiggins took over the second quarter, dropping 12 points and doing so efficiently, while also showing some juice off the bounce. The man who saved basketball has been looking for an opportunity to introduce himself to the NBA, and he took the sound of the first-quarter buzzer as a personal invitation to do so.
Wiggins was eventually joined by Gilgeous-Alexander in leading the scoring charge, and that tandem led OKC to opening its biggest lead of the first half. Once the lid came off, SGA proved why he is going to finish top three in MVP voting. As he does, he got to the line at a ridiculous rate, getting to the free throw line eleven times in the first half, helping to get his first-half total to 19 points.
Wiggins and SGA helped OKC to a 62-53 halftime lead, with both teams heading to the break with a lot to work on.
The third quarter wasn’t as kind to OKC. Dallas trimmed the lead to just one point after starting the second half on a 12-4 run, and Doncic and Irving started playing their game. After a timeout, OKC got back in a zone, with threes coming from SGA, Isaiah Joe, Chet Holmgren, and Lu Dort. The last of the four came via an SGA step back over Doncic, which prompted Mavericks coach Jason Kidd to call a timeout with his team trailing by eleven.
The rest of the third was an SGA show. OKC’s MVP put on a clinic from all over the floor. He hit two three-pointers, made a ridiculous layup over multiple Mavs, and blocked an Irving jump shot. He showed the whole world why he is much more than the free throw merchant he is described as by many on the internet, and led OKC to a lead that got as big as 14 points.
Dallas fought back late in the frame, and Irving hit a nasty three-pointer at the buzzer to cut OKC’s lead to just ten points with one quarter to go.
After struggling for most of the game, Jalen Williams finally stepped up to start the fourth. After an unreal high off-the-glass finish, Williams hit two monstrous three-pointers, including one that forced Kidd to call another timeout despite Irving getting into his bag.
Williams’ offensive outburst firmly captured the momentum for OKC, and it never looked back.
Williams continued to ball, SGA came back in the game and began playing more of a facilitation role, and OKC’s role players, including Wiggins, starting splashing threes. OKC’s lead ballooned over twenty points, and the Mavs called uncle with five minutes remaining.
OKC took it from there. The Thunder clinched the 117-95 win, taking a 1-0 series lead, and looking like the offensive team OKC fans watched all season.
It was an impressive showing from a team who the nation continues to discount as a true contender. Most will continue to be skeptical, and that’s fine, but one thing is clear for even the most negative onlooker to see — OKC is for real, and Dallas has a tough fight on it’s hands.
