Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Thunder Dominate, Take Game 1 in Blowout Fashion

Thunder Extend Unbeaten Streak, Mavs Extend Game 1 Losing Streak

Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Oklahoma City with Dominant Performance

The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their impressive playoff run with a resounding 117-95 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Sunday. The Thunder, who swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round, remain unbeaten in the 2024 NBA playoffs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was once again the driving force for Oklahoma City, posting a near triple-double with 29 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. The Thunder also received strong contributions from Darius Bazley (22 points, 10 rebounds) and Luguentz Dort (20 points, six rebounds).

The Mavericks, meanwhile, struggled to find their rhythm throughout the game. Luka Doncic, who averaged 33.4 points per game in the regular season, was held to just 21 points on 7-of-21 shooting. Spencer Dinwiddie added 19 points for Dallas.

The loss extends the Mavericks' losing streak in Game 1 of playoff series to five games. They were swept by the Golden State Warriors in the first round last year and lost Game 1 to the Phoenix Suns in the 2023 semifinals.

Conclusion

The Thunder's victory over the Mavericks sends a clear message that they are a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference. With Gilgeous-Alexander playing at an All-Star level and a deep roster of talented players, Oklahoma City looks poised to make a deep playoff run. As for the Mavericks, they will need to regroup quickly and find a way to break their Game 1 losing streak if they hope to advance to the next round.