Nowitzki leads Mavericks to the brink
May 25, 2011 16:58:33 UK
Dirk Nowitzki had 40 points as the Dallas Mavericks came from 15 points down to stun the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-105 in overtime and take a commanding three games to one lead in their best of seven Western Conference final.
The Mavericks could be up against Dwayne Wade (pic) and the Miami Heat in the NBA finals.Trailing 99-84 with a little over five minutes to go, Nowitzki led the Mavericks on a 17-2 run, scoring 12, to tie the game and send it into an extra frame.
Nowitzki was 12-for-18 from the field and 14-for-15 from the line, adding five rebounds and three assists, in an MVP style performance.
Jason Kidd dropped in 17 points on 5-for-9 shooting including 3-for-6 from beyond the arc and dished out seven assists as the veteran leadership of the Mavericks used their post season experience to push the Thunder to the brink of elimination.
Somewhat ironically, Oklahoma City finally got some serious production from starters Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha only to see superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook struggle from the field.
Durant and Westbrook were a combined 16-for-44 for the night scoring 48 total points. Ibaka recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds and Sefolosha contributed 12 points for the Thunder who had a better shooting percentage than the Mavericks, 47%-to-43%, grabbed 20 more rebounds and dished out nine more assists.
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However, Durant had nine turnovers and Westbrook six as Dallas held a 13 to 25 edge in the crucial statistic and one that Oklahoma City must rectify if they are to have any chance in game five. Dallas are 1.90 to see off Oklahoma with a -6.5 handicap in game five.
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