Without Luka Dončić, Mavericks Lean on P.J. Washington, Kyrie Irving, and Depth to Defeat Thunder

Washington led Dallas with 27 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, while Kyrie Irving added 23 points and six assists, providing leadership in critical moments. They set the tone in a balanced scoring night, featuring seven Mavericks players scoring in double figures after recently struggling to generate bench points.

“It felt great,” Irving said. “Everybody’s been needed, and everyone’s been doing their job. Tonight could have gotten out of control with turnovers or wasted possessions, but we stayed composed. We valued every possession and finished strong. It’s a step in the right direction, but we’re not satisfied yet.”

It was another impressive performance from Washington in Oklahoma City, who thrived at Paycom Center throughout the Western Conference semifinals, helping to guide the Mavericks in the series before advancing. He averaged 16.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in three road playoff games against the Thunder.

“Yeah, I like playing here. I think I just enjoy the matchup,” Washington said. “I went to school with Shai, so I love matching up against him. He’s a great player, and they’ve got a great team over there. I love playing against him for sure.”

The Mavericks outrebounded the Thunder 53-29, overwhelming an undersized Oklahoma City lineup missing Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams. Washington made clear that this area was a significant emphasis.

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“We knew coming in they weren’t really good on the boards because of their size,” Washington said. “Just attack the glass, make them foul, and put them in bad spots. Credit to Lively and Gafford—they played their butts off, and it was a great team win.”

Washington’s effort wasn’t limited to the boards. He delivered in crucial moments, including a floater late in the fourth quarter to stymie an Oklahoma City run and an assist to Irving for a corner three that rebuilt a 10-point lead. His ability to step up in Dončić’s absence demonstrated his value as a reliable leader on both ends of the floor.

“We were playing through P.J. tonight,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said. “It’s his second game back, and we’re posting him up as much as we could and asking him to do everything on the defensive end. He was great.”

Dallas Controls the Tempo in the First Half

The Mavericks wasted no time asserting their presence on both ends. With Dončić sidelined, Washington took it upon himself to set the tone, scoring on the opening possession and dominating the boards. Washington’s relentless energy fueled Dallas to a 39-34 lead after the first quarter, where they outrebounded the Thunder 15-8, underscoring their game plan to exploit Oklahoma City’s lack of size.

“Obviously, we’ve been struggling on the defensive glass, so coming back, that was my main focus,” Washington said. “They were small, but we killed them on the glass, and that’s the reason we won.”

Washington’s effort was complemented by timely contributions from the Mavericks’ bench. Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II provided crucial interior support, securing offensive rebounds and protecting the paint. Lively totaled 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks in 26 minutes in the start. Gafford chipped in 11 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.

Jaden Hardy, meanwhile, made an immediate impact by attacking the Thunder’s defense with confidence. His aggressive drives against Oklahoma City’s thin frontcourt created opportunities for both himself and his teammates.

“Whenever my name is called, I’m ready to go,” Hardy said. “Whether it’s scoring, getting guys involved, or running the offense, I feel like I’m capable of doing it all.”

Irving, tasked with running the offense in Dončić’s absence, adopted a measured approach. Instead of forcing shots, Irving allowed the game to develop, prioritizing ball movement and keeping his teammates involved. He didn’t attempt his first shot until midway through the first quarter, but his patience paid dividends as Dallas maintained their offensive flow.

“I was excited to play this game because I knew there wasn’t going to be anyone at the rim,” Irving said. “I’m so used to seeing guys packing the paint, but tonight I used my gravity to get inside and make Jalen Williams their rim protector. We had to take full advantage of that. They’ve got the top defense in efficiency right now, so you’ve got to give them credit. They’re a different team without Chet [Holmgren], but they’re scrappy, gritty, and they get into you. It was a good first battle, and we’ll see them again.”

The Mavericks continued to control the pace in the second quarter, extending their lead by executing on second-chance opportunities. Washington’s relentless pursuit of offensive rebounds symbolized the team’s collective effort. He missed a layup in one sequence, was immediately elevated for a putback dunk, and punctuated the play with a slight tug on the rim before jogging back on defense.

By halftime, Dallas held a 66-58 advantage, thanks to a 26-12 rebounding edge and strong contributions across the roster. Washington’s 17 points and 11 rebounds led the way, while Hardy and Gafford provided valuable support. Quentin Grimes, who finished with 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists on the night, added a timely three-pointer late in the half to further solidify Dallas’ control.

Thunder Push Back After Halftime

The Thunder began the second half determined to cut into Dallas’ lead, leaning heavily on the brilliance of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The All-Star guard was virtually unstoppable, scoring at will from all three levels. His ability to penetrate, draw contact, and finish with finesse or precision jumpers kept Oklahoma City within striking distance. By the end of the night, he tallied 36 points on an ultra-efficient 13-of-19 shooting, adding eight assists and two blocks to his stat line.

“Shai is an MVP candidate,” Irving said. “He played like one tonight, and he’s been doing that consistently for the past couple of years. He makes everyone on that team better, and you have to respect the way he leads them.”

Gilgeous-Alexander’s efforts were supported by Jalen Williams, who emerged as a secondary scoring option. Williams poured in 27 points on 10-of-16 shooting, showcasing his versatility by scoring both inside and out. His athleticism and ability to create his own shot gave the Mavericks trouble throughout the night.

“They’re a different team without Chet, but they’re doing their best to scrap and play gritty basketball,” Irving added. “They’ve got a lot of guys who know how to compete, and Jalen’s one of those players who can really make an impact.”

Despite the Thunder’s resurgence, Dallas maintained its composure. The Mavericks leaned on their rebounding dominance and timely shooting to stave off multiple OKC runs. Spencer Dinwiddie and Grimes each hit crucial three-pointers during the third quarter, allowing Dallas to keep the Thunder at arm’s length. Dinwiddie’s ability to score off the bench provided a consistent boost, while Grimes’ perimeter shooting punished Oklahoma City for sagging into the paint to contest Dallas’ bigs.

Washington continued to impose his will on the glass, tipping out offensive rebounds to reset possessions. His energy and effort created second-chance opportunities that the Mavericks converted into valuable points.

“P.J. was everywhere tonight,” Kidd said. “We needed that physicality and presence in the paint, especially when the game tightened up. He was a big reason we were able to hold them off.”

The Mavericks entered the fourth quarter with a 96-89 lead, maintaining a sense of control despite the Thunder’s persistent efforts. It was a testament to Dallas’ depth and ability to respond to Oklahoma City’s surges, ensuring the team remained positioned to close the game.

“We knew they weren’t going to stop fighting,” Kidd said. “This is a tough team, even without some of their key players. But we kept our focus and stayed aggressive, and that made the difference going into the fourth.”

Dallas’ ability to withstand the Thunder’s push set the stage for a dramatic fourth quarter, in which composure and execution would ultimately determine the outcome.

Chaos and Clutch Plays in the Fourth Quarter

The Mavericks seemed poised to put the game out of reach early in the fourth quarter. Dinwiddie, who finished with 10 points, ignited the offense with back-to-back three-pointers, stretching Dallas’ lead to 114-101. But Oklahoma City, led by Gilgeous-Alexander, wouldn’t go quietly. The Thunder responded with an 8-0 run fueled by Gilgeous-Alexander’s drives to the paint and the group’s defensive intensity.

With the Mavericks’ lead dwindling to 114-109, Washington delivered when his team needed him most. He calmly sank a floater to halt the Thunder’s momentum, then set up Irving for a crucial three-pointer from the corner, pushing the lead back to 10 with just over two minutes remaining.

“We’ve been in situations like this before where things start slipping, but tonight we stayed together,” Washington said. “I just tried to make the right play and keep us on track.”

Even with Dallas’ late-game heroics, Oklahoma City wasn’t done. Gilgeous-Alexander hit a three-pointer with 24.2 seconds remaining to trim the lead to 121-118, sending the Paycom Center crowd into a frenzy. Moments later, the Thunder forced a jump ball between Irving and Gilgeous-Alexander, gaining possession after Gilgeous-Alexander won the tip.

“In the last 30 seconds, it was all about communication,” Irving said. “We were demonstrative in what we wanted from one another. It’s about being fearless enough to tell your teammate what’s needed and then executing. That’s what it takes—those small moments of communication that lead to execution. Despite a few things, like the jump ball or the threes Jalen hit, we stayed focused. We finished the game the way we wanted, with confidence.”

What followed was a chaotic sequence emblematic of the Thunder’s scrappy resilience. With 8 seconds left, Gilgeous-Alexander was fouled and made the first free throw to cut the lead to two. Intentionally missing the second, the rebound caromed to Dort, who scrambled for a last-second three-point attempt. His contested shot from the wing bounced off the rim as time expired, sealing the win for Dallas.

“We’ve been in some close games and lost, but tonight, the guys stayed composed,” Kidd said. “Even when things got tight, we trusted the game plan and executed when it mattered most.”

For a Mavericks team that was 1-6 in clutch games entering this close call, it was positive to go through another hard-fought matchup that went down to the wire but to find a way to win. It was especially impressive to achieve without Dončić against a tough team on the road.

Key Contributions Across the Roster

Hardy’s 13 points marked his second consecutive double-digit scoring game, demonstrating his ability to impact the game in multiple ways. Hardy was aggressive when he stepped on the court, attacking Oklahoma City’s defense with relentless drives and looking for opportunities to involve his teammates.

“Whenever I hear my name called, I’m ready to go,” Hardy said. “Whether it’s scoring, getting guys involved, or running the offense, I feel like I’m capable of doing it all.”

Irving also spoke highly of Hardy’s progress. “Jaden has been great—really dialed in and locked in since training camp,” Irving said. “He’s creating flow for us, throwing incredible passes, and giving us confidence. When he’s playing well, we’re usually rolling.”

Hardy’s effort didn’t go unnoticed by Kidd, who emphasized the importance of his development. “We’ve talked about Jaden growing as a playmaker, and tonight, you saw some of that,” Kidd said. “He’s finding ways to get the team organized and making smart decisions. That’s big for us.”

Naji Marshall made an impact off the bench, scoring 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. He aggressively attacked the paint often, providing a necessary element. Attacking the lane was crucial since Klay Thompson struggled with 5 points and shot 1-of-11 from the floor and 1-of-8 from deep.

“We’re emphasizing driving the ball, especially when there’s no shot blocker,” Kidd said. “The guys are taking full advantage of that. We’ve said it before—when the ball touches the paint, good things happen. Analytics show it, and you guys point it out, too—if the ball gets to the paint, something positive is going to come from it.

“The more we turn down that first shot unless it’s wide open and instead re-drive it, the better chances we have of creating something good,” Kidd added.

Building Confidence After a ‘Tough’ Week

For a team that has struggled to close out tight games this season, Sunday’s win marked a pivotal moment in the Mavericks’ growth. The victory, which improved Dallas to 7-7, wasn’t just a notch in the win column—it was a confidence booster for a group still finding its identity with new pieces in place.

The Mavericks have endured a series of heartbreaking losses, and Kidd has been focused on learning how to execute during crunch time. Sunday’s performance showed signs of progress. Dallas was coming off a four-game stretch of single-possession losses before ending the streak with a 110-93 victory over a shorthanded San Antonio Spurs squad on Saturday night before defeating the Thunder the next day, beginning a two-game winning streak.

“Last week was tough, but it was a learning experience,” Kidd said. “We are a good team, but we must become one first. We’ve got new players working through that, trying to understand each other. No one’s going to panic—we come back to play the next game, and we put ourselves in a position to win on the road.”

The Mavericks will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, with Dončić potentially returning to the lineup. Dallas’s win on Sunday was about more than rebounding or scoring, but the team understands Oklahoma City will be ready to fire back in the next matchup on January 17 at the American Airlines Center.

“They’re scrappy and talented,” Irving said of the Thunder. “They’ll bounce back, and we’ll see them again. Those games are always battles.”

The Mavericks showed resilience in Dončić’s absence. Still, the team emphasized that his unique ability to draw defensive attention and create opportunities for teammates has been sorely missed, even as Dallas managed to grind out this win without him.

“When he’s on the floor, he brings so much attention, and when he’s not, it’s a lot different,” Washington said of Dončić. “He’s a special player, and we need him back. I can’t wait to get him back. It was tough winning without him, but I can’t wait until he’s back.”

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