NBA Playoffs 2011: Dirk's Phenomenal Performance Lifts Mavs over Thunder

People were comparing Dirk Nowitzki to Zach Randolph before this series started. Big, good at rebounding, a great fadeaway jump shot. However, Dirk was in his own league tonight.

So much for Zach Randolph.

Dirk scored 48 points and made all 24 of his free throws, Jason Terry scored 24 and Dallas overcame a second-quarter deficit to defeat Oklahoma City 121-112 and take a 1-0 series lead in the Western Conference finals.

In the first four minutes, Dirk scored 10 points and every Mavericks fan in the arena was predicting big things from Nowitzki. Although those were his only buckets in the first, he made some nice plays in the second as well.

Dirk added 11 more in the second, dominating with his odd fadeaway shot and scoring wherever he could. From layups off inbounds to jumpers to driving layups to free throws, Dirk was unstoppable.

Nowitzki took and made each shot like a miss would literally kill him. With the Mavericks on top 71-62 in the third, Dirk took a 14-footer and it went off the backboard and...in.

Even though Dirk was the highlight of the night, J.J. Barea shared some of the wealth in the fourth quarter. Barea would fake, dribble or shoot. The small, but talented Barea racked up 21 on the night.

With the Mavericks up eight late in the fourth quarter, Dirk took another jumper that you might not have known if it went in or not if you couldn't hear the sound of the crowd. Dirk had 46!

Even though the Thunder responded with a three, Dirk answered back with another jumper. With the score at 116-110, Jason Terry put the game in the books with a three. Terry made some huge threes down the stretch to help Dallas.

Nowitzki hit a playoff-record 24 straight free throws and he made 12 of 15 shots from the field. Some extra shooting over the nine-day break helped him and the Mavericks prepare for the Western Conference finals.

Oklahoma City was supposed to come out rusty, and over the first four minutes, they were. But a 29-11 run magically changed a 12-3 deficit into a 32-23 lead, their largest of the game.

However, Terry and Dirk helped Dallas come back and dominate the rest of the second quarter.

Russell Westbrook played for most of the game, yet Barea equally matched him off the bench. A key matchup the Thunder needed to take the series gone to Dallas. Westbrook needs to step up for the Thunder if they want to win the series.

Game 2 is Thursday night in Dallas.