Dallas beats Oklahoma City in Game 6, ending Thunder's season
Dallas advances over Oklahoma City to the Western Conference Finals, 4-2.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did all he could to lead the Thunder to victory, but the series came down to--you guessed it--a P.J. Washington three-pointer. After coughing up a 16-point halftime lead over the Mavericks, OKC came excruciatingly close to winning Game 6 and extending the series. But a near-block was ruled a foul on SGA with 2.5 seconds left in the game and the Mavs down 1. Washington sunk the first two free throws and the Thunder's season ended on a Jalen Williams heave.
Oklahoma City played a more well-rounded game than the consecutive losses, with Chet Holmgren (21 points, 3 rebounds) and JDub (22 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists) helping lift the lid on offense. But it was still the Shai show (36 & 8), as his teammates failed to convert from distance yet again in the closeout game (the non-Shai Thunder went 11-36 from three). The Thunder will be kicking themselves over some missed free throws in this one (SGA was 4-7), and the missed opportunities to go up on Dallas earlier in the series when Luka Doncic (29/10/10 tonight) and Kyrie Irving (22 points, 4-10 from three) were held in check.
pic.twitter.com/Rx34XIHS44 https://t.co/SZ9oPu3kfs
— Thunder Muse (@ThunderMuse_) May 19, 2024
shai gilgeous-alexander went on a 7-0 run himself...in a span of 53 seconds. pic.twitter.com/x1l3jhfCuf
— Dan Favale (@danfavale) May 19, 2024
Shai, JDub and Joe went 10-14 from three.
— Daily Thunder (@dailythunder) May 19, 2024
The rest of the Thunder went 5-27.
In a one-point loss.
The block that could’ve changed the season pic.twitter.com/3Qx2LbFtIa
— Matty Double Dribbles (@MattTyranny) May 19, 2024
P.J. Washington clutch gene 🧬
— NBA (@NBA) May 19, 2024
His 2 free-throws secure the Game 6 win... sending the @dallasmavs to the Western Conference Finals! pic.twitter.com/UgwplfehKe
OKC’s season ends by fouling a 3-point shooter.
— ryan woods (@ryanwoods_) May 19, 2024
the ultimate serge ibaka tribute.
Yes, OKC blew a big lead.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 19, 2024
But that Mavs team is really good.
Thunder responded time and again to the Mavs’ runs.
Had the lead in a road Game 6 with 2.5 seconds to go.
Heartbreaking way to lose. But thought they went out fighting.
Heartbreaking finish to the season but incredible fight from OKC on the road tonight. Some literal bounces went the wrong way.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) May 19, 2024
But an amazing season from this young team. Impressed by them every single day.
What a season from the Thunder.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 19, 2024
Youngest #1 seed of all time.
Won first playoff series since 2016.
Coach of the Year.
MVP runner up.
Rookie of the Year runner up.
Improved from 40 wins to 57 wins.
Future is incredibly bright in OKC.
Daigneault congratulates the Mavs after G6:
— Nick Gallo (@NickAGallo) May 19, 2024
"(Dallas was) a better team over the course of the series. Tonight it could have gone either way obviously. We were right there and outplayed them for much of the 48 and had a lot of progress but obviously they were one point better."
Last Thunder airport greeting of the season info. ⬇️ https://t.co/c8a9a4zXma
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) May 19, 2024
