The loss snapped the Mavs’ six-game winning streak and dropped their record to 9-5, while the Thunder improved to 8-6.
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However, the Mavs connected on their first 10 shots of the third quarter, opened that period with a 10-0 run and eventually darted out to an 82-72 lead following a fast break layup by Devin Harris. “This team has made it really fun to play”, Williams told reporters. “We gave up 117 points and we’ve been giving up under 100 on average”.
Just two days after the Thunder played one of their worst games of the season against the Knicks, Oklahoma City responded valiantly on Sunday evening as they prevailed in the fourth quarter to beat the red hot Dallas Mavericks 117-114. The blocked shot was recovered by shooting guard Wesley Matthews (18 points), which fell as an air ball. “So I think we lost a few of our defensive edge and we got to get it back”.
Williams missed an 18-footer and Pachulia fouled Thunder center Steven Adams while going for the rebound.
“I thought we were poor on defense the entire game”, coach Rick Carlisle said. A basket by rookie Cameron Payne put the Thunder up 41-30 with 8:27 left in the second quarter, but the Mavericks rallied to forge a 50-all tie. But the Mavericks made one more field goal the rest of the quarter, allowing the Thunder to close the gap.
Durant has missed the last six games with a strained left hamstring, and he’s expected to return this week, though the Thunder are yet to decide exactly which game that may be.
“The first stint I was in I was kind of out of breath”, said McGee, who collected eight points and six rebounds in 11 minutes. Enes Kanter (12) and Nick Collison (10) all scored in double-digits off the bench and were crucial contributors in the Oklahoma City win. The Thunder wore their alternate orange uniforms for the second time this season. There’s a chance he could return Monday against the Utah Jazz or Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets. Swarming team-defense took care of business on the other end of the court as the Thunder were able to pull out the home win. “I think they’re trying to push him a little bit further each day, up unto a point”.
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“I was looking for a handoff and I don’t know who it was, but I think it was Dion Waiters who hit me on my right side and I thought it was enough to draw the attention of the official, but obviously not”, Matthews said.
