NBA Report:Three numbers to remember as the Thunder defeated the Luka-less Mavericks 126-119

Three numbers to remember as the Thunder defeated the Luka-less Mavericks 126-119 

 

 

The Dallas Mavericks (38-29) experienced the end of two streaks during their matchup against the

Oklahoma City Thunder (46-20) at the Paycom Center on Thursday. The streaks that came to an abrupt halt were Daniel Gafford’s impressive run of 33

consecutive made field goals and, more significantly, the Mavericks’ four-game winning streak, as they fell 126-119.

Despite the absence of Luka Dončić, the Mavericks remained competitive against the Thunder, reminiscent of their

struggle against the Golden State Warriors without Steph Curry the previous night. Dončić sustained a

hamstring tweak in the fourth quarter against Golden State, sidelining him for the back-to-back contest against Oklahoma City.

In Dončić’s absence, Kyrie Irving stepped up admirably, leading the Mavericks’ charge against the Thunder, who

currently share the top spot in the Western Conference standings. Irving showcased his scoring prowess with 36 points on 12-of-18 shooting, along with

12 assists and two steals in the losing effort. Additionally, Tim Hardaway Jr. displayed signs of improvement after a

period of lackluster performances, contributing 23 points and nine rebounds while shooting 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.

However, lacking the presence of one of the premier players in the league, the

Mavericks found themselves short-handed against the energetic and fast-paced Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

spearheaded OKC’s attack with 31 points, shooting efficiently at 9-of-16 from the field, and contributing nine rebounds in their victory. Forward Jalen Williams

also made significant contributions with 27 points. Here are three notable statistics that significantly impacted the Mavericks’ recent defeat:

In a blink of 32 seconds, Daniel Gafford’s remarkable field goal streak came to an end. The anticipation was high as Gafford entered Thursday’s game with a

streak of 33 consecutive made field goals over the past five games. However, on the Mavericks’ first offensive possession against the Thunder, Gafford missed his

first attempt. Dante Exum’s driving attempt in traffic was unsuccessful, leading to Gafford grabbing the offensive rebound. Despite his effort to convert a

tough bucket inside against Chet Holmgren, Holmgren managed to disrupt Gafford’s shot enough to end his pursuit of Wilt Chamberlain’s streak of 35 in a

row, set back in February of 1967. Gafford’s attempt glanced off the glass and rim, bringing an end to his impressive streak.

 

Gafford briefly exited the game during the third quarter after twisting his right ankle while pursuing a long rebound following a missed Josh Giddey 3-pointer. Although concerning, Gafford returned

shortly after and delivered another impressive dunk at the 7:45 mark, keeping the Mavericks within reach, trailing 77-70.

During their recent four-game win streak, the Mavericks struggled with their 3-point shooting, hitting just 29 percent from beyond the arc. However,

they showed improvement in their game against OKC, shooting 41.4% from distance, with notable contributions from players like Tim Hardaway Jr. (5-of-9), Kyrie Irving (4-of-6), and Derrick

Jones Jr. (2-of-2). Conversely, P.J. Washington struggled, making just 1-of-7 attempts, and Dante Exum, filling in for Dončić, went 2-of-8 from the field overall.

 

The Mavericks needed a collective effort to secure victory, but some players failed to deliver the necessary performance. Additionally, the team committed 19

turnovers, allowing the Thunder to capitalize and score 34 points off those turnovers, ultimately contributing to the Mavericks’ inability to pull off the upset.

Heading into the game, Oklahoma City led the league in scoring 20 points off opponent turnovers per game. In the loss, both Exum and Irving, who serve as the team’s primary ball handlers, each committed four turnovers.

 

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