JAKARTA - Dallas Mavericks managed to advance to the West Region Finals after beating the top team of the table, Oklahoma City Thunder, with a 4-2 draw. A dramatic victory in the sixth match which took place at the American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas, Sunday, May 19 which ended with a score of 117-116. A win was won thanks to two PJ Washington Jr free shots in the last 2.5 seconds.
Thunder's young team, who had fallen behind for 17 points, almost turned things around at the end of the game. However, Mavericks with their experience able to respond quickly and defend the win. Kyrie Irving, who returned to play in the final round of the conference after the last time playing with Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017, said, "Following after a 17-point lead in the game is not the position you want, but that's where we find ourselves. We have to respond in the way we do all season."
Luka Doncic scored three-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Kyrie Irving and Derrick Jones Jr both added 22 points, Dereck Lively II scored 12 points, and Daniel Gafford contributed 10 points.
The key moment of the match occurred when PJ Washington got three free throws after being violated by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when it was about to shoot three points. Coach Thunder, Mark Daigneault, had proposed a challenge to review violations, but the contact Gilgeous-Alexander made against Washington remained a violation.
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Gilgeous-Alexander, who set the highest record in his playoff career with 36 points, said, "If I get that moment back, I will not commit a foul against him, and will let him fail to shoot."
Although Thunder's journey, which is full of young players and has managed to become the top team in the West this regular season, has to stop, they have put up an impressive fight.
Mavericks will face the winner of the Denver Nuggets match series against the Minnesota Timberwolves who will play their seventh game.
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