Game 53: Oklahoma City Thunder (35-16) vs. Dallas Mavericks (29-23)

[OBX Maverick]

Amazing how Gafford and PJ in limited minutes have changed the interior dynamic for Dallas both on offense and with rebounding. It also hasn’t hurt that Maxi has had his best game of the season!

[Mavs2021]

Every NBA video assistant right now: Okay scratch Hack-a-Lively from the play-off menu. Cause that´s something we´d surely have seen until Gafford and his silky smooth FT technique entered the arena.

[SleepingHero]

Kyrie has played SO much better this half

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

This team is fun to watch. Too bad 2/3 of the Mavs' announcers do their absolute damnedest to make the broadcast unlistenable.

[Jym]

So glad we ended up with Gafford instead of OKC

[SleepingHero]

Giddey is having a game from hell. He's not this bad.


PJ has had 2 great defensive possessions in a row. Great stuff.

[Jason Terry]

We are legit contenders. Who is better in the West? I’m not afraid of any of those teams. Only Denver deserves respect

[KillerLeft]

So glad we ended up with Gafford instead of OKC

For real. THEY needed him even more.

[dirkfansince1998]

Kyrie has played SO much better this half

If he wouldn't disappear for extended stretches he would be the franchise player on his own team. All the talent in the world but sometimes you barely notice that he is on the floor. I guess that helps when he is playing next to guys like LBJ or Luka. But I would love see a little more "selfishness" from him. He has it in him. Against the Nets he had something to prove and took over from the very beginning.

[SleepingHero]

PJ WASHINGTON ATTACKING OFF A DRIVE AND NAILING A LAYUP!!!!!!!!!!

LETS GO!

[Jym]

We are legit contenders. Who is better in the West? I’m not afraid of any of those teams. Only Denver deserves respect

Clippers still scare me. 
Hopefully can get get OKC or the 'Wolves in the first round

[HoosierDaddyKid]

This might be they're most impressive win of the year.

[meistermatze]

Totally wrong take on Kyrie by some guys in this thread. I am SO imrpessed with him, because he NEVER forces it and still drops 25 a night. He goes with the flow, that's why he is the perfect guy next to Luka, from a mentality standpoint. Sure, it would be perfect if he was the size of Pippen with his defense but I mean we still live in reality and those two can obviously co-exist and with 3 athletic guys who rebound and can shoot threes is a GREAT team going forward. I am super excited. Best win of the season, I think.

[SleepingHero]

Amazing how Gafford and PJ in limited minutes have changed the interior dynamic for Dallas both on offense and with rebounding.  It also hasn’t hurt that Maxi has had his best game of the season!

I said it earlier but the fact SGA is trying to drive on 6'5 DJJ only to be met with PJ Washington 7'2 wingspan and Daniel Gafford shading with Luka waiting below. There is just SO much more size.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

This is the most hype I’ve been about the Mavs since game 7 in Phoenix.

Yeah it might not all work out big picture but this is fun.

[dirkfansince1998]

Thunder have a Giddey-sized problem. And I am not talking about the off court stuff. I guess the trade for Hayward happened for a reason.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Clippers still scare me. 
Hopefully can get get OKC or the 'Wolves in the first round

Let's not get ahead of ourselves over one game. The West is tough. They've played great, but it's one game.

[Mavs2021]

I said it earlier but the fact SGA is trying to drive on 6'5 DJJ only to be met with PJ Washington 7'2 wingspan and Daniel Gafford shading with Luka waiting below. There is just SO much more size.

Yeah no easy sh*t at the rim anymore. You need vision impairers in the NBA. Powell and Williams just are non-existent in the botherment factor.

[donzingis38]

Kai is cooking

[dirkfansince1998]

One more rebound for Gafford and the Mavs would have two bigs with double doubles.