Thunder Punch Mavs, Ticket to Vegas
OKC 118 DAL 104
In front of a raucous crowd on national TV, The Thunder (19-5) eliminated the Mavericks (16-9) from the NBA Cup, earning a trip to Las Vegas to try and win the tournament.
The 57-54 first half was a familiar clash: Luka Doncic sweating for 2 points in the Dorture Chamber, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander going off (18 first half points, 39 for the game), but Dallas decisively winning the shooting battle with the rest of his teammates. But OKC's trusty turnover and transition advantage went from an edge to full tilt in the second half, taking control of the game with a 33-19 third quarter marked by more defense-to-offense highlights and--you guessed it--a lethal scoring flurry by SGA.
The Thunder are dead even with the Mavs. A 6-game, 636-636 playoff series showed that earlier this year. Now they're 1-1 against Dallas on this season, with both teams winning a game without a star (Luka for Dallas in November, Chet for OKC tonight).
But Shai is better than Luka. And while a trip to the NBA Cup quarterfinals in Las Vegas will be fun, he has OKC's ultimate focus on the knockout rounds to come after the long regular season ahead.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the Mavs: “They came out of the West last year. Which means they were the best team in the West. And I respect that…
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) December 11, 2024
That’s where I want to be. I want to come out of the West and win an NBA Championship.”pic.twitter.com/vZv3wN7Yfz
Next up: On Saturday, OKC travels to Vegas to face the winner of tomorrow night's Rockets/Warriors knockout game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tonight
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) December 11, 2024
39 PTS
15-23 FG
5-9 3PT
6-6 FT
8 REB
5 AST
3 STL
1 BLK
2 TO
MVP performance
Luka: good finally got Dort off me
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) December 11, 2024
Cason Wallace: pic.twitter.com/5bjvQmGns0
pic.twitter.com/uIHjfZUhqr https://t.co/jDkwZ8OF8F
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) December 11, 2024
SGA said Chet Holmgren gives pregame speeches and he gave the team one tonight.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) December 11, 2024
Shai says that’s probably why OKC won tonight.
Cason Wallace on Chet Holmgren’s pregame speech and being in the arena tonight: “I don’t remember nothing from the speech. I remember running out and laughing. He gave me a good laugh…
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) December 11, 2024
I feel like it’s good for all of us to see his face around. To see he’s in good spirits.”
Mark Daigneault on OKC shooting 7 total free throws tonight including 0 in the second half:
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) December 11, 2024
“I think it’s hard in a game that physical to shoot zero free throws in a half.”
Free throw battle tonight
Mavs 19
OKC 7
Lu for DPOY and Shai for MVP or we riot
— chet holmgren (@ChetHolmgren) December 11, 2024
Guess what song played on the arena speakers a couple of minutes after the final buzzer in OKC https://t.co/ngZtSeZFLk
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 11, 2024
