OKLAHOMA CITY — The
Dallas Mavericks suffered a crushing defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder,
falling 118-104 in the quarterfinals of the 2024 NBA Cup Nights at Paycom
Center on Wednesday (IST).
With a trip to Las Vegas for the semifinals on the line, the
Mavericks struggled mightily, especially in a disastrous third quarter,
allowing the Thunder to seize control and ultimately seal the victory.
Luka Doncic was stifled by Oklahoma City's top-ranked
defense, scoring just two points in the first half. While he found some rhythm
late in the third, the Mavericks were already down 90-73, facing an uphill battle
they could never overcome.
“There’s a reason they’re the No. 1 defensive team in the
league. They have great defensive players. They decided to double me every
time. Give credit to them. They played really good defense today," said
Doncic after the match.
It was a first half to forget for Doncic, who was named the
NBA’s player of the week when the Mavericks went 3-0 last week.
Dallas was plagued by 19 turnovers, which led to 36 Thunder
points, a glaring issue that coach Jason Kidd pinpointed as a major factor in
the loss. The Mavericks also lost the rebounding battle 28-17 in the second
half, further contributing to their collapse.
Oklahoma City shot a blistering 53% after halftime, led by
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who exploded for 39 points. The Mavericks' defense
struggled to contain him and the rest of the Thunder, who hit 20 of 50
three-pointers. Naji Marshall, returning after a four-game absence, scored a
team-high 19 points, but his efforts weren't enough to shift the momentum.
“He’s a great scorer. He gets his teammates involved. A lot
of times, it’s hard to stop him. I think at some point, you got to send two or
three players. It’s amazing to play against a guy like this, the battles. It’s
fun,” said Doncic on Shai.
This loss snapped the Mavericks' seven-game winning streak,
though they’ve still won 11 of their last 13 games. With the defeat, they now
face an added game on Sunday against the loser of the Golden State-Houston
matchup, as their road-heavy schedule continues.
