5 thoughts: Mavs close out Thunder, advance to Western Conference finals

The victory sends Dallas to the Western Conference finals for the sixth time in the franchise’s 44-season history and the second time in coach Jason Kidd’s three seasons.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic reacts to a foul call during the first half in Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Dallas.Five thoughts from the Dallas Mavericks’ 117-116 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Saturday night’s Game 6 in American Airlines Center.

Dallas and Denver have twice met in the postseason, with the Nuggets winning both times. Denver beat Dallas 4-2 in the second round in 1988; and the Nuggets prevailed 4-1 in the second round of the 2009 playoffs.In the regular season, Oklahoma City was the NBA’s most efficient 3-point shooting team, at 38.9%. But entering Game 6 the Thunder had shot, in order, 45.7%, 33.3%, 33.3%, 26% and 25% for an aggregate of 32.7%.

Seemingly due, OKC made 10-of-24 3-point attempts in Game 6′s first half alone. The matched or exceeded its total output in four of the first five games.Thunder coach Mark Daigneault admitted before Game 6: “I think they’ve outplayed us to this point in the series. I think that’s marginal, it’s not necessarily loud. They’re up three to two. But I think that’s reflective of the team that’s played better so far.’The marginal part obviously is a matter of opinion.

In Game 6 Oklahoma led for most of the night, with Dallas not taking its first lead until 42-40 late in the first half. The Mavericks trailed 64-48 at halftime and spent the rest of the night furiously rallying.The Mavs averaged 12.5 turnovers this season, fourth-lowest average in the NBA, but in the first half of Game 6 alone they had 11 turnovers, leading to 23 OKC points.

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