OKC Thunder

SOURCE SPORTS: Thunder Topple Mavs, Advance to NBA Cup Semifinals

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On Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder punched their ticket to the Emirates NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas with a 118-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The win flipped the script from last season’s playoff defeat, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with a spectacular all-around performance.

SGA poured in 39 points, outscoring Dallas’ stars Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, who combined for just 33 points. He also added eight rebounds, five assists, five threes, and three steals. Oklahoma City’s balanced attack saw all five starters in double figures, with Jalen Williams contributing 18 points and Isaiah Hartenstein notching a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

The Thunder broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 33-19 behind 16 points from Gilgeous-Alexander and capped by Isaiah Joe’s buzzer-beating three.

OKC’s defensive dominance was on full display. The Thunder, who allowed the league’s second-fewest points, held Dallas to its second-lowest scoring output of the season. Dončić and Irving’s 33 points marked their second-worst combined total in games where both logged 40 minutes.

With a league-leading 14 steals, OKC capitalized on Dallas’ 18 turnovers, turning them into 36 points. The Thunder also rained down a season-high 20 threes on 50 attempts, improving to 13-1 when shooting 36% or better from deep.

The Thunder now await the Warriors and Rockets matchup winner to determine their semifinal opponent on Dec. 14.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Wembanyama and Holmgren Headline 2023-24 Kia NBA All-Rookie Teams

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Wembanyama and Holmgren Headline 2023-24 Kia NBA All-Rookie Teams

San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama and Oklahoma City Thunder forward-center Chet Holmgren have been unanimously chosen for the 2023-24 Kia NBA All-Rookie First Team. Both players secured First Team votes on all 99 ballots cast by a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

Accompanying Wembanyama and Holmgren on the First Team are Charlotte Hornets forward-guard Brandon Miller, Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski.

Meanwhile, the Kia NBA All-Rookie Second Team features Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II, Houston Rockets guard-forward Amen Thompson, Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George, Oklahoma City guard Cason Wallace, and Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson II.

The selection process involved a media voting panel, which nominated five players for each team regardless of position. Players earned two points for each first-team vote and one point for each second-team vote.

Check out the complete voting results for the 2023-24 Kia NBA All-Rookie Team below:

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SOURCE SPORTS: Mavericks Secure Game 5 to Take Series 3-2 Lead Over Thunder

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Mavericks Secure Game 5 to Take Series 3-2 Lead Over Thunder

After a narrow miss in the fourth quarter of Game 4, the Mavericks bounced back decisively in Game 5, taking control early and never relinquishing the lead to secure a 104-92 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The victory puts Dallas in a commanding position as they head into Game 6.

Luka Doncic was the standout performer, delivering a stellar 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, marking his third 30-point triple-double in playoff history. This achievement ties him with LeBron James for the second-most such games by a player aged 25 or younger, with only Oscar Robertson (seven) having more. In addition to his impressive stats, Doncic made a crucial block on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the final minute, sealing the win for Dallas. Derrick Jones Jr. also shone, scoring a playoff career-high 19 points, thanks in part to five assists from Doncic, including two three-pointers, two alley-oops, and a dunk.

The Mavericks’ defensive prowess was on full display as they held the Thunder to below 100 points for the first time in this series. Dallas limited OKC to 42.5% shooting (25% from three) and restricted them to just 10 free throw attempts. The Mavs are now 13-0 this season, including 4-0 in the playoffs, when holding opponents under 100 points.

Despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s valiant effort, posting his fourth consecutive 30+ point game with 30 points, eight assists, and two steals, he was the only Thunder player to score more than 13 points. SGA joins Russell Westbrook as the only players in OKC playoff history with at least four straight 30+ point games in a single postseason.

The series resumes on Saturday (8 PM ET, ESPN) in Dallas for Game 6, where the Mavericks will aim to close out the series at home. The young Thunder face their first elimination game, hoping to extend their playoff run.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Mavericks Secure Game 5 to Take Series 3-2 Lead Over Thunder first appeared on The Source.

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SOURCE SPORTS: OKC Claws Back to Tie Series with Dallas

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OKC Claws Back to Tie Series with Dallas

The Oklahoma City Thunder pulled off a remarkable comeback to even their series with the Dallas Mavericks at 2-2, securing a 100-96 victory.

Trailing eight points with just over eight minutes left, the Thunder went on a decisive 17-6 run to take a three-point lead with 3:24 remaining.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was instrumental in the Thunder’s rally, scoring 22 of his game-high 34 points in the second half. SGA also contributed eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks in 42 minutes. His back-to-back tough baseline jumpers during the run were pivotal, while Jalen Williams added crucial plays, including a driving dunk and a fastbreak layup off a steal to extend OKC’s lead.

The Thunder’s victory marks their 18th win this season after trailing by double digits, the most of any team. This resilience pushed the series back to Oklahoma City, tied at 2-2.

Despite Luka Doncic’s second triple-double of the postseason (18 points, 12 rebounds, ten assists), the Mavericks were unable to hold their lead. P.J. Washington delivered a strong performance with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and five three-pointers, marking his third consecutive game with 20+ points. However, Kyrie Irving struggled, scoring only nine points with nine assists, falling below 10 points for just the second time as a Maverick, both occurrences within the last three games.

The series now shifts back to OKC for Game 5, where both teams will battle to gain an advantage in this tightly contested matchup.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Thunder Dominate Mavericks in Game 1 After Week-Long Break

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Thunder Dominate Mavericks in Game 1 After Week-Long Break

Following their first-round sweep, the Oklahoma City Thunder continued their playoff momentum with a resounding 117-95 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s near-triple-double performance of 29 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, the Thunder showcased their strength.

Contributions were widespread, with Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams combining for 37 points, including a crucial 10-point burst from Williams in the fourth quarter. The team’s three-point shooting was exceptional, with 16 made threes from seven different players, including Aaron Wiggins, who contributed three.

Despite efforts from Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, who combined for 39 points, it wasn’t enough to overcome OKC’s dominance. The loss marked their lowest combined scoring output of the playoffs.

Daniel Gafford shone for OKC with an impressive first-career playoff double-double, tallying 16 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks.

The Thunder’s victory underscores their resilience and depth, setting a solid tone for the remainder of the series. With a blend of star power and collective effort, OKC aims to continue its playoff success and advance deeper into the postseason.

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SOURCE SPORTS: OKC Thunder Sweep Pelicans Behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Near Triple Double

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OKC Thunder Sweep Pelicans Behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Near Triple Double

The Oklahoma City Thunder outscored the New Orleans Pelicans 22-9 in the final 8.5 minutes to clinch a 97-89 victory in Game 4, marking their first series win since 2016.

Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge, each contributing 24 points. Williams’ clutch performance in the fourth quarter, including two pivotal 3-pointers, sealed the win, while SGA’s 10 rebounds bolstered the Thunder’s efforts.

With an average age of just 23 years and 343 days, the Thunder’s youthful roster surpassed the 2010-11 squad as the youngest team to win a playoff series in NBA history.

Combining youthful energy with veteran-like precision, the Thunder showcased a level of execution rarely seen in young teams. Standout performances from Chet Holmgren and Josh Giddey, who added 14 points each, underscored the team’s depth and talent.

Despite facing formidable opponents like CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas, the Thunder’s defense held strong, limiting Brandon Ingram to eight points on 2-of-14 shooting.

Looking ahead, the Thunder eagerly awaits the outcome of the Mavs-Clippers series, tied at 2-2. With their sights set on the next round, the Thunder’s youthful roster is poised to continue their impressive postseason run, fueled by determination and talent.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: OKC Thunder Sweep Pelicans Behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Near Triple Double first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: OKC Thunder Sweep Pelicans Behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Near Triple Double appeared first on The Source.