Luka Doncic overcame injury and adversity to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a crucial victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals. Despite dealing with a sprained right knee and a bleeding left knee, Doncic put up an impressive stat line of 29 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
In a post-game interview, Doncic described the game as one of the toughest he has ever played, emphasizing his determination to help the team win. The Slovenian star improved his shooting performance from the previous game, scoring 29 points on 11 of 21 field goals and drawing the ire of Thunder fans with his on-court interactions with the referees.
PJ Washington also had a standout performance for the Mavericks, contributing 29 points and 11 rebounds. Head coach Jason Kidd praised Washington for setting the tone for the team and highlighted his impact in the post.
Dallas, the fifth seed in the West, managed to even the series with the top-seeded Thunder, securing home advantage for Game 3. Kyrie Irving added nine points and 11 assists in the Mavericks’ victory.
On the Thunder side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander impressed with 33 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists, while Jalen Williams added 20 points. It was the first loss for Oklahoma City in the postseason, as they allowed more than 100 points for the first time in six playoff games.
The series now shifts to Dallas for Game 3 on Saturday, with both teams looking to gain the upper hand in what promises to be a hard-fought battle for a spot in the Western Conference Finals.