The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a commanding 117-95 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, taking an early 1-0 lead in the series.
Leading the charge was the Thunder's standout player and NBA MVP finalist, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), who delivered an impressive performance with 29 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. SGA was relentless at the free-throw line, going to the line 13 times—the most in Tuesday's game. He notably scored 10 points in the second quarter and added another 11 points in the third, helping his team outscore the Mavericks 66-56 during those periods.
The Thunder's dynamic \"Big Three,\" including Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, combined for a total of 37 points. Williams was flawless from the field in the fourth quarter, making all four of his field goal attempts to rack up 10 points. Holmgren contributed defensively with three blocks. The Thunder's bench also played a crucial role, adding 42 points and outpacing their Mavericks counterparts by 19 points, ensuring a solid win for Oklahoma City.
With this victory, the Oklahoma City Thunder take a strong lead in the Western Conference semifinals, setting the stage for an exciting series ahead.
Reference(s):
NBA highlights on May 7: OKC dominate Mavs in Western semifinals G1
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