Game ID: 22301196
Dallas Mavericks @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 3:30 PM ET
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
OKC 39 43 26 27 135DAL 22 19 16 29 86
DAL @ OKC ScoutingDAL @ OKC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
OKC availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 3 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Jal. Williams missed 3 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Dieng missed 9 since 3/22, out tonight
NEW Joe 18 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 16 to 23 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Gilgeous-Alexande missed 4 since 4/02, returns tonight: 38 min (109% of 35)
OUT Jal. Williams missed 4 since 4/02, returns tonight: 36 min (111% of 32)
OUT Dieng missed 10 since 3/22, out tonight
NEW Giddey 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 16 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 14 to 20 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/10 · back-to-backOUT Hayward missed 2 since 4/07, returns tonight: 20 min (133% of 15)
OUT Dieng missed 11 since 3/22, out tonight
BACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/09 after 4, 38 min since (109% of 35)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/09 after 4, 36 min since (111% of 32)
NEW Giddey 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Joe 18 to 24 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 16 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 14 to 20 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Dieng missed 12 since 3/22, returns tonight: 5 min (51% of 10)
BACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/09 after 4, 32 min since (92% of 35)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/09 after 4, 30 min since (92% of 32)
BACK Hayward back 4/10 after 2, 20 min since (133% of 15)
NEW Giddey 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Wiggins 16 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW K. Williams 14 to 20 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/14 · 1 day's restBACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/09 after 4, 31 min since (89% of 35)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/09 after 4, 29 min since (89% of 32)
BACK Hayward back 4/10 after 2, 23 min since (153% of 15)
BACK Dieng back 4/12 after 12, 5 min since (51% of 10)
NEW Giddey 24 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Wiggins 16 to 22 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/21 · 6 days' restBACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/09 after 4, 27 min since (78% of 35)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/09 after 4, 25 min since (77% of 32)
BACK Hayward back 4/10 after 2, 22 min since (150% of 15)
BACK Dieng back 4/12 after 12, 12 min since (115% of 10)
NEW Wiggins 16 to 23 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 4/24 · 2 days' restBACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 4/09 after 4, 30 min since (85% of 35)
BACK Jal. Williams back 4/09 after 4, 28 min since (87% of 32)
BACK Hayward back 4/10 after 2, 19 min since (128% of 15)
BACK Dieng back 4/12 after 12, 12 min since (115% of 10)
OKC availability going into 4/27 · 2 days' restBACK Hayward back 4/10 after 2, 17 min since (116% of 15)
BACK Dieng back 4/12 after 12, 9 min since (87% of 10)
OKC availability going into 4/29 · 1 day's restBACK Dieng back 4/12 after 12, 9 min since (87% of 10)
DAL availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 10 since 3/17, out tonight
OUT Lively II missed 3 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Fudge missed 2 since 4/04, out tonight
NEW Exum 16 to 24 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 11 since 3/17, out tonight
OUT Lively II missed 4 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Fudge missed 3 since 4/04, out tonight
NEW Exum 16 to 26 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 4/10 · back-to-backOUT Green missed 12 since 3/17, returns tonight: 14 min (57% of 24)
OUT Lively II missed 5 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Fudge missed 4 since 4/04, out tonight
OUT Powell missed 2 since 4/07, out tonight
NEW Exum 16 to 26 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 6 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Fudge missed 5 since 4/04, returns tonight: 7 min (53% of 13)
OUT Powell missed 3 since 4/07, returns tonight: 21 min (179% of 12)
BACK Green back 4/10 after 12, 14 min since (57% of 24)
NEW Exum 16 to 26 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 4/14 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 7 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Green back 4/10 after 12, 19 min since (77% of 24)
BACK Fudge back 4/12 after 5, 7 min since (53% of 13)
BACK Powell back 4/12 after 3, 21 min since (179% of 12)
NEW Exum 16 to 24 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 4/21 · 6 days' restOUT Dončić missed 2 since 4/12, returns tonight: 42 min (111% of 38)
OUT Irving missed 2 since 4/12, returns tonight: 39 min (107% of 36)
OUT Lively II missed 8 since 4/02, returns tonight: 19 min (83% of 23)
BACK Green back 4/10 after 12, 23 min since (95% of 24)
BACK Fudge back 4/12 after 5, 13 min since (100% of 13)
BACK Powell back 4/12 after 3, 24 min since (205% of 12)
DAL availability going into 4/23 · 1 day's restBACK Dončić back 4/21 after 2, 42 min since (111% of 38)
BACK Irving back 4/21 after 2, 39 min since (107% of 36)
BACK Green back 4/10 after 12, 19 min since (80% of 24)
BACK Lively II back 4/21 after 8, 19 min since (83% of 23)
BACK Fudge back 4/12 after 5, 13 min since (100% of 13)
BACK Powell back 4/12 after 3, 16 min since (139% of 12)
DAL availability going into 4/26 · 2 days' restBACK Dončić back 4/21 after 2, 44 min since (115% of 38)
BACK Irving back 4/21 after 2, 40 min since (111% of 36)
BACK Green back 4/10 after 12, 18 min since (76% of 24)
BACK Lively II back 4/21 after 8, 20 min since (86% of 23)
BACK Fudge back 4/12 after 5, 13 min since (100% of 13)
BACK Powell back 4/12 after 3, 16 min since (139% of 12)
DAL availability going into 4/28 · 1 day's restBACK Dončić back 4/21 after 2, 43 min since (112% of 38)
BACK Irving back 4/21 after 2, 39 min since (108% of 36)
BACK Lively II back 4/21 after 8, 18 min since (80% of 23)
BACK Fudge back 4/12 after 5, 13 min since (100% of 13)
BACK Powell back 4/12 after 3, 13 min since (110% of 12)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Holmgren at 16 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest. Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and Irving at 29 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Lively II (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-6 a night and OKC minus-1 and the arc, OKC at 38 percent from three to Dallas's 34. Call it OKC 117, Dallas 113, Dallas keeping it close.
4/07 @ CHA 121-118 — OKC notes
OKC won 121-118. OKC shot 52% (45 of 87) to CHA's 54%, 18 of 36 from three. Wiggins led with 26 (11 of 20, 2 of 6 from three); Giddey added 20, Holmgren 20. The hinge was Q2, 34-26: a lead of 2 became 10.
4/09 vs SAC 112-105 — OKC notes
OKC won 112-105. OKC shot 49% (39 of 80) to SAC's 34%, 11 of 30 from three. The glass went 42-56 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 40 (11 of 21, 2 of 3 from three, 16 of 20 at the line); Dort added 18, Holmgren 15. The hinge was Q3, 39-23: the deficit went from 19 to 3. OKC trailed 45-64 at the half and won the second half 67-41. Wiggins was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
4/10 vs SAS 127-89 — OKC notes
OKC won 127-89. OKC shot 47% (47 of 101) to SAS's 33%, 16 of 38 from three. The glass went 62-47 for them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 26 (10 of 18, 1 of 3 from three); Giddey added 20, Hayward 18. The hinge was Q1, 34-11: from level to 23 ahead, and the lead reached 42. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
4/12 vs MIL 125-107 — OKC notes
OKC won 125-107. OKC shot 53% (47 of 89) to MIL's 49%, 13 of 38 from three, and went to the line 20 times to MIL's 13 — 18 points from the stripe to their 12. OKC turned it over 10 times to MIL's 17. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 23 (7 of 21, 0 of 7 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Holmgren added 22, Wiggins 19. The hinge was Q2, 28-18: a lead of 7 became 17, and the lead reached 29. Dort was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
4/14 vs DAL 135-86 — OKC notes
OKC won 135-86. OKC shot 56% (54 of 97) to DAL's 33%, 14 of 34 from three. The glass went 58-41 for them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 15 (5 of 11, 0 of 4 from three); Wiggins added 14, Dieng 13. The hinge was Q2, 43-19: a lead of 17 became 41, and the lead reached 58. Wallace was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
4/21 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 101, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 26 and Holmgren at 16 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 6 days' rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 44 from three, 19 free throws a game; McCollum at 29 and Williamson at 24 a game. Without Marshall (2 straight), Hawkins (3 straight). 6 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 101 a night to New Orleans's 112. Call it OKC 118, New Orleans 110.
4/24 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 96, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 26 and Holmgren at 15 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 2 days' rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 42 from three, 17 free throws a game; McCollum at 27 and Murphy III at 23 a game. Without Hawkins (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 96 a night to New Orleans's 110 and the arc, New Orleans at 42 percent from three to OKC's 37. Call it OKC 116, New Orleans 107.
4/27 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 16 free throws a game; McCollum at 24 and Williamson at 23 a game. That is 3 straight losses. 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 93, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 25 and Holmgren at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 93 a night to New Orleans's 115 and the glass, where OKC has been plus-4 a night and New Orleans minus-0. Call it OKC 116, New Orleans 108.
4/29 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 15 free throws a game; McCollum at 21 and Ingram at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 92, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 25 and Jal. Williams at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 92 a night to New Orleans's 111 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 12. Call it OKC 114, New Orleans 105.
4/07 vs HOU 147-136 — DAL notes
DAL won 147-136 in 1 overtime. DAL shot 54% (46 of 85) to HOU's 49%, 15 of 39 from three, and went to the line 45 times to HOU's 35 — 40 points from the stripe to their 27. DAL turned it over 17 times to HOU's 10, and HOU turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 47-32 for them. Irving led with 48 (15 of 25, 3 of 8 from three, 15 of 17 at the line); Dončić added 37, Washington 14. The hinge was OT1, 18-7: from level to 11 ahead. DAL trailed 66-71 at the half and won the second half 81-65. Kleber was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
4/09 @ CHA 130-104 — DAL notes
DAL won 130-104. DAL shot 54% (50 of 93) to CHA's 44%, 17 of 50 from three. The glass went 55-39 for them. Dončić led with 39 (13 of 25, 8 of 17 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Gafford added 26, Irving 18. The hinge was Q1, 36-18: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 27. Irving was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
4/10 @ MIA 111-92 — DAL notes
DAL won 111-92. DAL shot 49% (43 of 87) to MIA's 41%, 15 of 44 from three. DAL turned it over 7 times to MIA's 15. Dončić led with 29 (9 of 23, 4 of 15 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Irving added 25, Washington 12. The hinge was Q2, 36-23: a lead of 9 became 22, and the lead reached 25. Hardaway Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
4/12 vs DET 89-107 — DAL notes
DAL lost 89-107. DAL shot 43% (36 of 83) to DET's 48%, 8 of 29 from three. DAL turned it over 20 times to DET's 6, and DET turned those into 11 steals. Hardy led with 25 (9 of 19, 2 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Prosper added 16. Q2 was theirs, 25-26, but the other 3 periods went 81-64 against them. Powell's -15 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/14 @ OKC 86-135 — DAL notes
DAL lost 86-135. DAL shot 33% (32 of 97) to OKC's 56%, 8 of 39 from three. The glass went 41-58 against them. Williams led with 22 (8 of 21, 1 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Prosper added 15, Lawson 12. Q4 was theirs, 29-27, the deficit cut from 51 to 49, but the other 3 periods went 108-57 against them. Green's -44 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/21 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 16 free throws a game; George at 24 and Hyland at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Leonard (8 straight). 6 days' rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and Irving at 30 a game. Without Dončić (2 straight), Irving (2 straight), Lively II (8 straight). 6 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the line, where Dallas takes 21 free throws a game to the Clippers' 16. Call it the Clippers 115, Dallas 113, Dallas keeping it close.
4/23 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 14 free throws a game; Hyland at 21 and George at 18 a game. Without Leonard (9 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 34 and Irving at 25 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 34 percent from three to Dallas's 30 and the line, where Dallas takes 19 free throws a game to the Clippers' 14. Call it the Clippers 113, Dallas 109, Dallas keeping it close.
4/26 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 96 a night and allowing 107, shooting 41 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and Irving at 26 a game. 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 109, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 17 free throws a game; George at 18 and Harden at 18 a game. Without Theis (2 straight), Tucker (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Dallas wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Dallas 110, the Clippers 109, the Clippers keeping it close.
4/28 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 94 a night and allowing 107, shooting 40 percent and 29 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 29 and Irving at 25 a game. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 104, shooting 42 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Harden at 19 and Zubac at 16 a game. Without Theis (3 straight), Tucker (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Dallas 109, the Clippers 108, the Clippers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DALAF A. Fudge
AL A. Lawson
BW B. Williams
DP D. Powell
JG J. Green
JH J. Hardy
MM M. Morris
OP O. Prosper
TH T. Hardaway Jr.
OKCAW A. Wiggins
BB B. Biyombo
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
GH G. Hayward
IJ I. Joe
JG J. Giddey
JW J. Williams
JW Jal. Williams
JW Jay. Williams
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
LW L. Waters III
MM M. Muscala
OD O. Dieng
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
DAL/OKC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Thunder rout Mavericks 135-86 to take the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference
OKLAHOMA CITY -- — With about 90 seconds remaining, Oklahoma City's fans stood in unison and began chanting.
O-K-C! O-K-C!
As the final moments wound down in a 135-86 win over the Dallas Mavericks , the still-standing Thunder fans celebrated a team that went from winning 24 games two seasons ago to having the best record in the Western Conference this season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in one half of action, and the Thunder dominated a depleted Dallas squad on Sunday for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Oklahoma City finished with the same 57-25 record as the Denver Nuggets but owns the tiebreaker. The Thunder hadn’t finished as the top seed since the 2012-13 season and hadn't been to the playoffs since the 2019-20 season.
The Thunder say they have climbed by focusing on daily improvement, and they'll continue to do so.
“We all know what got us to this point,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Just doubling down on that and keeping our heads down and trusting the work. We got this far for a reason. Just don’t veer off of it.”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said he's proud of a squad that began the season as the third-youngest team in the league.
“Nothing’s guaranteed in any year, so, to be a postseason team, to be a one seed — we don’t take that for granted at all," he said. “We’re incredibly excited. And now it’s just a matter of letting it rip with that opportunity.”
Daigneault said now that the youth won't matter going forward.
“We’re zero and zero when we wake up tomorrow morning for the playoffs," Daigneault said. "So what we’ve accomplished to this point doesn’t impact that. But I do think we’ve built great habits. We’ve done it together. Again, I have a lot of confidence, but not because of our age ... but because of how the guys have performed and the things they've built together.”
Aaron Wiggins scored 14 points and Chet Holmgren had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder, who won their fifth straight to close the regular season.
The Thunder entered the day in a three-way tie with the Nuggets and Timberwolves for the best record in the Western Conference. It was the first time in NBA history that three teams entered the final day of the season tied for a conference lead. They were able to claim the top seed despite Gilgeous-Alexander missing six games late in the season with a bruised right thigh.
The Thunder will have to wait for the Play-In Tournament's conclusion to learn their first-round opponent.
NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic and star guard Kyrie Irving were among the four starters the Mavericks rested. Doncic had a sore left ankle and Irving had a sore left hamstring. The Mavericks already had clinched the No. 5 seed and a first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Brandon Williams scored 22 points and Olivier-Maxence Prosper added 15 for the Mavericks.
Oklahoma City ran out to an 11-0 lead as the Mavericks missed their first four shots. The Thunder led 39-22 at the end of the period.
Oklahoma City led 82-41 at halftime. The team set a season high for points in a half and fell one point short of a Thunder record for points in a half after missing a shot off the front iron at the buzzer. Oklahoma City shot 60.4% from the field before the break.
Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Holmgren sat at the start of the second half with the game under control. Oklahoma City hit the 100-point mark with 3:30 left in the third quarter and led 101-49 after a pair of free throws by Bismack Biyombo . Oklahoma City led 108-57 at the end of the third.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Visit the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of a Western Conference playoff series.
Thunder: Will host Game 1 of a Western Conference playoff series.