SOURCE SPORTS: Doncic and Washington Lead Mavs to Victory Over Thunder, Even Series

Doncic and Washington Lead Mavs to Victory Over Thunder, Even Series

Luka Doncic and P.J. Washington showcased their scoring prowess, combining for 58 points and a dozen 3-pointers as the Dallas Mavericks secured a 119-110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, evening the series 1-1.

From the onset, the Mavs maintained control of the game, never trailing in the first half. However, a brief surge from OKC saw them take the lead for just over two minutes in the third quarter. Dallas swiftly regained momentum, with Tim Hardaway Jr. igniting a crucial 10-0 run midway through the third period, ultimately securing the victory. Hardaway Jr. contributed 13 of his 17 points in the second half, with his pivotal scoring burst proving instrumental in the Mavs’ success.

Despite a stellar performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who recorded a game-high 33 points along with 12 rebounds and 8 assists, the Thunder fell short. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were the only other OKC players to reach double-digit scoring, with 20 and 11 points, respectively.

As the series moves to Dallas for the next two games, the Mavs will look to capitalize on their home-court advantage. Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday at 3:30 ET, airing on ABC, followed by Game 4 on Monday at 9:30 ET, broadcasted on TNT.

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

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

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.

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Victor Wembanyama Has Dominant Performance Against Rookie Of The Year Rival

Victor Wembanyama finally got the Spurs back in the win column with a dominant performance over the Thunder. Wembanyama had 28 points, 13 assists, and 5 blocks as San Antonio snapped a five-game losing streak. Furthermore, the win came against Chet Holgren, widely seen as Wembanyama’s closest rival for the Rookie of the Year award. Holgrem had a 23/7/5 night in the double-digit loss to San Antonio. Holgren was originally drafted in 2022. However, he missed the entire 2022-23 season due to injury. Per the NBA rules, this makes the 2023-24 season his rookie year.

“I missed this sh-t,” Wembanyama said after the game, referring to his frustrations about the Spurs’ inability to win this season. Earlier in the week, after dropping a historic 5×5 night, Wembanyama had dismissed comparisons to Michael Jordan. “Did he do it in a win?” Wembanyama had asked, implying he cared more about wins on the board than personal accomplishments. Furthermore, Wembanyama was widely praised for his mentality by various sources around the NBA. The Spurs next host the Pacers on Sunday.

Read More: Giannis Antetokounmpo Calls Victor Wembanyama “Special” After First Matchup

Victor Wembanyama Records First Professional Triple-Double

However, Wembanyama has been making history throughout his rookie year. Back in January, Wembanyama had his first professional triple-double, putting up 16/12/10 against the ailing Detroit Pistons. Furthermore, the 21 minutes and 2 seconds Wembanyama needed to complete the feat made it the second-fastest triple-double of the shot clock era. The 22-point win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Spurs and moved them to 6-30 on the season. Meanwhile, the Pistons fell to 3-35 and extended their then-losing streak to six games.

“Doing it in a win is everything, of course. I didn’t know it was the second fastest in NBA history. It matters to me. I’m not the type to talk for nothing. This is the kind of statement we want to make as a team, and this is type of statement I want to make as a player,” Wembanyama said after the game.

Read More: Victor Wembanyama Reveals His Favorite Off-Court Hobby

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Chris Paul Claims Daryl Morey Lied To Him About OKC Trade

Chris Paul has claimed that Daryl Morey promised not to trade him to OKC in 2019. “Daryl call me. He said ‘I was just calling you to make sure you didn’t wanna go to OKC.’ I was like, ‘No, why I don’ moved 15 people to Houston.’ And he was like, ‘Okay I was just making sure. I would never trade you to somewhere you didn’t want to go.’ I’m at the house chilling and next thing you know [the alert] said that I was getting traded [to OKC]. And then my phone started ringing and it was Daryl. Daryl was like, ‘Hey man, it just moves so fast.’ I said, ‘It’s all good I just want you to tell me one thing. You said you wasn’t going to trade me, right?’ He said, ‘Yeah I said that but–’ I said, ‘That’s all I needed to know.’”

Paul was sent to the Thunder along with picks in exchange for picks and Russell Westbrook. 18 months later, in November 2020, Paul was on the move again. This time he was the core piece in a massive player trade that sent him to Phoenix. Of course, Paul now finds himself in the Bay Area after Phoenix traded him to Washington, who then traded him to Golden State.

Read More: Chris Paul Ejection Deepens Beef With Veteran Ref Scott Foster

North West’s Basketball Skills Have Fans Revisiting Kanye’s Chris Paul Claims

Meanwhile, a recent TikTok by North West showing off some impressive dribbling ability has been met with a wave of hilarious reactions from fans. While many people were impressed by West’s ball handling, more than a few commenters couldn’t help but crack some jokes. “CP3 a good trainer yea,” one fan wrote. The short comment refers to claims that Kanye West made in 2022 that Kim Kardashian had cheated on him with Chris Paul. No proof that the rumor was true ever emerged, but it is one that has stuck with fans.

Another avenue of comments surrounded North’s apparent readiness to join the NBA. Many fans commented that she had better off-hand control than the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown. Meanwhile, several others said that North could start for the Pistons already. However, of course, there were a few haters on hand to dismiss North’s ability. The full video of North’s impressive skills can be found below. What do you think of her game? Let us know in the comments.

Read More: Kim Kardashian Says Failing The Baby Bar Three Times Helped Her Bond With North West

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Josh Giddey Allegations Being Investigated By The NBA

The allegations that Josh Giddey had sexual relations with a minor are officially being investigated by the NBA. A league spokesperson announced that the league office was “looking” into the allegations on Friday, a day after they originally hit social media. Earlier in the day, Giddey acknowledged the allegations for the first time. “I understand the question obviously, but there’s no further comment right now,” Giddey told reporters after practice on Friday.

Giddey is accused of a sexual relationship with a woman named Livvy Cook. The allegations first emerged on social media, with users appearing to post evidence of Giddey interacting with Cook. One of the widely-cited pieces of alleged evidence was a Snapchat post showing Giddey and Cook in a post-coital state of undress with the in-picture text caption “Just f-cked Josh Giddey”. Furthermore, social media users later uncovered more posts that appeared to corroborate the story, as well as Cooks’ TikTok account, which appeared to confirm that she was not 18. Further investigation has revealed that Cook may have been as young as 15.

Read More: Uniform From Kobe Bryant’s Last Road Game Goes Up For Auction

The age of consent in Oklahoma is 16, although a “close-age exception” exists if one party is at least 14 and both parties are 18 or younger. According to state law, sexual relations between an unmarried couple in which one party is below the age of consent and the other is 18 or older could result in a second-degree statutory rape charge. The sentence if found guilty can range from one to 15 years in prison.

Born in 2002, Giddey joined the NBA in 2021. He forwent the US college system, instead playing a season of professional basketball in his native Australia before declaring for the draft. He had a strong rookie season, putting up 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.4 assists as part of the Thunder’s young core. His sophomore season only saw Giddey improve. In the 2022-23 season, Giddey put up 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists as the Thunder made the playoffs for the first time since the COVID Bubble.

Read More: Kevin Garnett Blasts Jordan Poole, Says He “Does Not Belong In The League”

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SOURCE SPORTS: NBA Announces Preseason Games Between Raptors, Kings, Pistons, and Thunder for 9th NBA Canada Series

NBA Announces Preseason Games Between Raptors, Kings, Pistons, and Thunder for 9th NBA Canada Series

The NBA has exciting news for Canadian basketball fans as they announced the return of the NBA Canada Series presented by Bell with two preseason games in October 2023. On Oct. 8, the Toronto Raptors, led by Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes, will face the Sacramento Kings at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena. The Kings boast a talented roster, including Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox, under the coaching of Mike Brown, the unanimous 2022-23 NBA Coach of the Year.

On Oct. 12, the Oklahoma City Thunder, featuring Canadians Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and MontrĂ©al native Luguentz Dort, will take on the Detroit Pistons at MontrĂ©al’s Bell Centre. The Pistons showcase promising players like Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, making the matchup thrilling for basketball enthusiasts.

Tickets for these games will be available for sale soon, and fans can register for exclusive presale access on NBA.com/CanadaSeries. Get ready for some high-flying NBA action in Canada!

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Air Jordan 4 “Thunder” Release Details

One of the best Jumpman silhouettes is certainly the Air Jordan 4. Overall, this is a shoe that has received its fair share of incredible offerings over the years. Although there are other amazing silhouettes from Jordan Brand, the Jordan 4 definitely stands out. It was a nice evolution on the Air Jordan 3, and it remains an iconic offering. The hype for this shoe simply will not die off. Whenever a new colorway is released, fans flock to it. Consequently, Jumpman continues to make new and improved versions of the classic model.

That said, there are a ton of great colorways that could receive a retro. Overall, most of the OG color schemes have already gotten said retros. Subsequently, it would be redundant to keep releasing them. However, there are a few amazing Air Jordan 4 models that were released once, only to never be heard from again. Jumpman is aware of this, and they know that some sneakerheads have been clamoring for new retros. A great example of their awareness is the return of the Air Jordan 4 “Thunder.”

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Read More: Air Jordan 13 “Wolf Grey” Gets Detailed Product Shots

“Thunder” Air Jordan 4

Air Jordan 4
Image via Nike

The Air Jordan 4 “Thunder” was a reverse version of the Jordan 4 “Lightning.” Overall, this is a colorway that immediately caught on with fans. For the most part, they absolutely loved this shoe. Firstly, the upper is covered in black suede which creates a really sharp look. Secondly, we get a midsole that is covered in yellow. Lastly, this yellow look is then extended over to the lace locks on the sides, as well as the material underneath the upper’s black mesh. Altogether, this shoe just looks fantastic.

If you are interested in copping this sneaker, you will be happy to know that it comes out tomorrow, Saturday, May 13th. Furthermore, the price of the shoe has been set at $210 USD. If you want something dope for the summer, these will do it. Let us know what you think of this shoe, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the wide world of sneakers.

More Photos

Image via Nike
Air Jordan 4
Image via Nike

Read More: J Balvin Previews His Air Jordan 3 Collaboration

Air Jordan 4 “Thunder” Gets Critical Release Update

Tinker Hatfield developed a ton of amazing shoes for Michael Jordan, including the Air Jordan 4. Overall, this is considered by some to be his best shoe. Although, there are plenty of others who will make a case for the Air Jordan 3. Either way, there is no denying that you cannot go wrong with this piece of history. It is a shoe that was created about 34 years ago at this point, and it has proven that it is actually timeless. Consequently, it continues to get some brand new color schemes.

Additionally, Jumpman likes to hit this shoe with its fair share of retros. Retros are when you take an old colorway and rerelease it to the masses. Sometimes, this can come with some sort of twist. However, other times, the shoe is just exactly the same as it used to be. This year, one of the Air Jordan 4 retros that will be released is the “Thunder” model which can be found below. While this model released about a decade ago, it still continues to impress sneakerheads and even casuals.

“Thunder” Air Jordan 4

In the post above from @zsneakerheadz, you can see some official images of the sneaker. Firstly, it starts out with a predominantly black upper that is covered in suede. Secondly, there are some yellow highlights on the midsole, laces, and underside of the upper. Overall, these elements come together to create a dope shoe that is somehow flashy yet stealthy. Interestingly enough, the above post gives a critical update for this shoe. Apparently, it could very well be subjected to a SNKRS shock drop, very soon. As to how soon? We aren’t sure.

The official release of this shoe is set to take place on May 13th for a price of $200 USD. Only time will tell whether or not the stock levels will be able to satisfy everyone. Let us know what you think of these, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sneaker world. We will always be sure to keep you informed on all of the latest releases.

Twitter loses it at Thunder-Pelicans Play-In Matchup

The 2023 NBA Play-In tournament has already been wild. The Raptors missed 18 free throws in a loss to the Bulls. Meanwhile, the Lakers needed overtime to secure playoff basketball. Elsewhere, the Heat couldn’t keep pace with the Hawks. The amount of shocks, antics, and upsets are already off the charts. If the playoffs are anything like the Play-Ins, NBA fans can expect two months of heart palpitations.

In the West’s do-or-die match, the OKC Thunder took on the Zion Willamson-less New Orleans Pelicans. Without Williamson, Trey Murphy and Brandon Ingram would need to lead the Pelicans past a young and hungry Thunder roster. Meanwhile, the ten-seed Thunder were hoping to shock the Pelicans at home. However, the Thunder had struggled against New Orleans this season, going 1-3 in four games. The loser would be starting their offseason. Meanwhile, the winner would get one more chance to reach the playoffs.

Thunder Outclasses New Orleans

In front of a packed Smoothie King Center, it looked like the home team Pelicans would be moving on. Thunder team leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up just seven points in the first half behind a constant double and triple-teaming effort from the Pelicans. However, the Pelicans were unable to completely dominate offensively and were only leading by seven at the half. A crucial advantage that the Pelicans did have was better play in the paint, out-rebounding the Thunder on both ends.

Despite the slim deficit, the second was all Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander put up 25 points to complete a game-total 31 from teammate Josh Giddey. The Thunder’s second half was enough to hold off the Pelicans, and 20 second-half points from Ingram. The Pelicans had a chance to send the game to overtime as time expired but Herbert Jones threw away a crucial inbound pass. Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with a total 32 points. Ingram led the Pelicans with 30. The tenth-seeded Thunder moved on and will face the Timberwolves for the West’s eighth seed. It marks the end of a disappointing season for New Orleans, who were completely derailed by losing Zion Williamson yet again. Williamson has now missed 60% of his young NBA career to injury.

Twitter Reacts

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