By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Led by Slovenian star Luka Doncic, the team from Texas defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road 92-104 and will have a chance to clinch the conference finals at the American Airlines Center.
Doncic recorded his third postseason 30+ point triple-double, scoring 31 points with 11 assists and 10 rebounds. He’s leading the Mavs in points, rebounds, and assists this postseason.
A couple of times, he exchanged words with the home crowd at Paycom Center.
“I love it, and when they chant ‘Luka sucks,’ it gets me going,” Doncic said. “I’m just trying to play basketball, just focus on basketball,” he said. “Sometimes I forget this is the thing I love, the thing I do. My mental focus was just to go out there and play basketball with a smile on my face and just go.”
Doncic was followed by Derrick Jones with 19 points and Kyrie Irving with 12, while Dereck Lively had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and P.J. Washington also contributed with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
On the other side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and eight assists, while Chat Holmgren added 13 points, Lu Dort and Jalen Williams had 12 each, and Josh Giddey scored 11.
While Dallas is on the verge of the Western Conference finals, the Boston Celtics advance in the East after taking down the wounded Cleveland Cavaliers 113-98 in Game 5.
Jayson Tatum was on the verge of a triple-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, while Al Horford followed with 22 points and 15 boards.
Evan Mobley led the Cavs with 33 points, while Marcus Morris followed with 25.