BBNBA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 30 points not enough to down Mavericks in Game 5

ZGeogheganKSR

For the fourth game in a row, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored at least 30 points. But for the third time in as many games, the Oklahoma City Thunder came up short.

Behind a 31-point triple-double (and a new attitude towards the referees) from Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks went into OKC and took down the Thunder in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals by a final score of 104-92. The loss breaks a 2-2 series tie, pushing the Mavericks in front 3-2 as a pivotal Game 6 shifts back to Dallas.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 30 points (14 in the third), six rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and one block in 42 minutes of action. He shot 12-22 from the floor and 2-4 from long range. OKC trailed for most of Game 4 earlier this week but was able to recover down the stretch. That was not the case in Game 5. Dallas took a 10-point lead into halftime (leading by as many as 15 in the second quarter) before controlling momentum throughout the second half.

Aside from SGA, no other Thunder player scored more than 13 points. Cason Wallace played 27 minutes but managed just three points on 1-7 shooting (1-5 3PT). The Mavs led by as many as 18 points in the fourth quarter.

Along with his 31 points, Doncic added 11 assists and 10 rebounds to his stat line. He made it a point not to argue nearly as much with the officials — a reputation that had grown exponentially into the postseason. Instead, he fought through his many injuries and easily had his best performance of the series so far.

“I’m just trying to play basketball, just focus on basketball,” he said postgame. “Sometimes I forget this is the thing I love, the thing I do. My mental focus was just go out there and play basketball with a smile on my face and just go.”

Doncic was aided by 10 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists from PJ Washington, who was on the court for 37 minutes. Dallas shot over 52 percent as a team compared to just 42.5 percent for OKC.

Game 6 is set for Saturday at 8:00 p.m. EST on ESPN in Dallas.

5/15/24 statistics

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	+/-	MIN
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)	104-92 L vs. DAL	30	12-22 (2-4)	6	8	2	1	3	-3	42
PJ Washington (DAL)	104-92 W @ OKC	10	4-9 (2-7)	10	4	1	0	3	11	37
Cason Wallace (OKC)	104-92 L vs. DAL	3	1-7 (1-5)	0	0	0	0	0	-9	27