Thunder End Mavericks' NBA Cup Hopes Behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 39 Points and Stifling Defense
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 39 points and Thunder's stifling defense lead to a 118-104 win over the Mavericks, ending Dallas' NBA Cup hopes in Oklahoma City.
OKLAHOMA CITY — With a trip to Las Vegas for the NBA Cup Semifinals on the line, the Dallas Mavericks (16-9) fell 118-104 to the Oklahoma City Thunder (19-5) at Paycom Center. The Thunder’s defensive execution and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar performance proved insurmountable for Dallas, ending their tournament run.
Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 39 points, shooting 14-of-23 from the field while adding 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. The Thunder superstar admitted he used his team’s elimination from last season’s playoffs as motivation in this matchup.
"They came out the West last year, which means they were the best Western Conference team,” Gilgeous-Alexander said regarding his motivation to beat the Mavericks. “Obviously, we know how good the West is. I respect that. I use the opportunity to get better and to see if I got better and really measure myself... That's where I want to be at the end of the day. I want to come out the West and win an NBA championship."
The Thunder dominated the game’s margins, forcing 19 Dallas turnovers and converting them into 36 points while committing only six themselves. Oklahoma City also grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, ensuring second-chance opportunities that stifled the Mavericks’ comeback attempts.
“We didn’t take care of the ball,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said. “They’re the best defensive team in the league for a reason. Number one in deflections, steals—and they did exactly what they’ve been doing all season.”
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