- The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks 118-104 in the quarterfinals of the 2024 NBA Cup
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 39 points, while Naji Marshall added 19 points
- Luka Doncic struggled against the Thunder’s defense, scoring just two points in the first half and acknowledging the team’s tough defense
- The Mavericks committed 19 turnovers, leading to 36 Thunder points, which contributed to their downfall
- The loss snapped the Mavericks’ seven-game winning streak, but they have still won 11 of their last 13 games
Key Takeaways:
The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a convincing 118-104 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the quarterfinals of the 2024 NBA Cup. The Thunder’s defense played a crucial role in the win, stifling Luka Doncic and forcing the Mavericks to commit 19 turnovers, which led to 36 Thunder points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a standout performance, scoring 39 points, while Naji Marshall added 19 points to help the Thunder seize control of the game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did it all in OKC's big win over the Mavs 💪
The Thunder advance to the NBA Cup semifinals ⚡ pic.twitter.com/wZhcoJBZdA
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 11, 2024
The Mavericks struggled throughout, particularly in the third quarter, where they allowed the Thunder to take a commanding 90-73 lead. Luka Doncic, who scored just two points in the first half, found some rhythm late in the third but was unable to help his team to overcome the deficit. After the game, Doncic praised the Thunder’s defense, saying, “There’s a reason they’re the No. 1 defensive team in the league. They have great defensive players. They decided to double me every time. Give credit to them. They played really good defense today.”
The loss snapped the Mavericks’ seven-game winning streak, but they have still won 11 of their last 13 games. The team now faces an additional game in their road-heavy schedule against the loser of the Golden State – Houston matchup. The Thunder, on the other hand, will move on to the semifinals in Las Vegas, looking to continue their strong performance in the 2024 NBA Cup.