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'Indeed. What a game !' - Fans react as Dallas Mavericks beat Oklahoma City Thunder

Basketball: Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 105-101 on Saturday to take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

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Varun Sarwate
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Dallas Mavericks (Source: Mavs Moneyball)

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Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 105-101 on Saturday to take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. Kyrie Irving scored 22 points, including a running left-hander in the lane in the last minute to help Dallas hang on. 

P.J. Washington scored 27, just two points short of his career best from the previous game, while Luka Doncic added 22 points and 15 rebounds. With 29 seconds remaining, the Thunder behind by five points, and Doncic defending on a drive, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 31 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks, was called for a charge.

Kyrie Irving rebounded from just his third single-digit scoring game in his lengthy playoff career with 14 points in the second half, including six consecutive Dallas points in the fourth quarter, which enabled the Mavs to take their largest lead of the final period, nine. 

Doncic entered the game with an injured right knee and a strained left ankle, and he fell hard on his back in the last two minutes while he and Lu Dort, the NBA scoring champion's key defender, leaped for a loose ball. A jump ball was called, and Doncic recovered the loose ball, putting Dallas up three. 

Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault chose to intentionally foul Dereck Lively II in the fourth quarter, and the rookie center missed three of his first four free shots. But he nailed the next four in a row, the final putting Dallas ahead 100-95 with 3:06 remaining. 

Jalen Williams got injured while playing

Mavericks center Daniel Gafford, who suffered a dislocated pinkie finger in Game 2, left in the second quarter after damaging his left shoulder in an unintentional collision with Josh Giddey. He returned to the floor for the second half with his shoulder wrapped, but only played 19 minutes and scored eight points.

After hurting his left ankle, Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams remained down for over 30 seconds of live play in the third quarter, which ended with Irving's three-pointer. Williams went to the locker room briefly before returning early in the fourth quarter to finish with 16 points and eight assists. 

Isaiah Joe scored 10 points before halftime, including a three-pointer right before the buzzer, to give Oklahoma City Thunder a 52-51 edge at the break. Joe ended with thirteen. Chet Holmgren scored 13 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks, and the Thunder concluded with ten blocks. Oklahoma City fell in successive games after beginning 5-0 in the playoffs. The fourth game will take place in Dallas on Monday.

Check out fans reaction to the news:

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