NBA Playoffs 2011: Mavericks Defeat Thunder with Teamwork and Nowitzki

The Dallas Mavericks’ win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals was just what the Doctor ordered for this veteran team.

The final score of the tilt, 93-87 in favor of the Mavs, who showed how important their bench and distribution of the ball was (insert Jason Terry, Jason Kidd and J.J. Barea here).

In addition, Sean Marion’s 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks off the bench, was just what Coach Rick Carlisle’s did his homework for.

The adjustments made on the floor, directed by Carlisle, were what the team needed and heeded. Bringing in Jason Terry, JJ Berea, Sean Marion and Jason Kidd were idea’s that would cement the final six-point differential in the end for the Maverick’s win.

Right from the top, the Thunder were missing some makeable jumpers and struggling to get a hold onto the game.

First it was Ibaka who missed, and then Jason Kidd started to apply his game on the offense and defensive ends for the Mavs.

At some point in the first quarter, Sean Marion started to show up on both sides of the ball. The thunder weren’t going out without a fight, as Serge Ibaka started to roll on offense, knocking down jumpers and getting to the foul line.

Then it was the talented Westbrook for the Thunder who started to pick up his first points. With nine minutes remaining in the first quarter, Jason Kidd and Sean Marion combined in the transition game with great verve, conversions and assertive play.

No sooner than with the first Media timeout, the score was 11-4 in favor of Dallas. Following in line, Peja Stoyakovic was inserted in the game, and did not disappoint, answering with a three pointer.

Offensively and the defensively, the Mavs were getting to loose balls and rebounds first.

With 2:50 remaining in the first quarter, Coach Scott Brooks took his first time out.

With another jumper by Stoyakovic, and a Sean Marion dunk after the break, Dallas gathered a 15 point lead. Durant on the other side knocked down a two pointer, at the end of the quarter.

In the second quarter as in the first, Mavs Coach Rick Carlisle stated that, “we were really aggressive and smart. Getting stops is as important as scoring on the other side of the basket.”

No sooner did the fans turnaround, the Mavs had a 31-12 lead. Nowitzki followed with a 15 foot jumper, and then Jason Terry got fouled twice and converted all four of his free throws.

Coach Scott Brooks had this to add while being mic’d up for sound “just play your game and your good enough,” a very kind and supportive Coach.

The Thunder was taking the advice given to them as they retaliated with an alley-oop fed by Ibaka for Westbrook. Westbrook also came down the lane and dished of to Ibaka for the follow through at the basket.

J.J. Barea also made significant contributions. He penetrated and dished off to Nowitzki who collected his seventh point and third block of the game.

At that point, there was some seven minutes left in the quarter as Dallas led 40-19, perhaps their biggest margin of the game. In addition, J.J. Barea was scraping up loose balls, and errant passes.

With Westbrrook and Durant coming around, the Thunder began to rumble and come alive. With the crowd chanting "OKC, OKC, OKC," they cut the lead to 19 points.

Westbrook sooner or later started to draw fouls for the Thunder. Marion, equally effective lays in an alley-oop with several minutes to go before the half.

Marion led all scorers with 15 points during the game. Shooting percentage for the Mavs was 55 percent. With the score 52-36, Jason Kidd spoke to as an interviewee at half and said, “It was big. We got to play defense in order to win the game.”

After the half, Westbrook came out a little cold with his miss for the first shot of third quarter. Marion, with 14 points bumped up more layup’s in transition.

The score was now 58-40 for the Mavs, and the thunder took a lead of 17 points. Cefalonia for OKC knocked down a jumper cutting the lead to 15.

Cefalonia collected eight rebounds and knocked down some jumpers and layups. OKC started to distribute the ball with better spacing while the door was open.

Like a memorized plan, the gelling Mavs knew what to do and when to do it. They made adjustments and changes to their approach from set offensive to free form one-on-one.

Who ever had the hot hand at that time is where the ball was going. Sometimes it was Nowitzki, others it was Russel Westbrook. With two minutes left in the third quarter, the Mavs were still up by 13.

Scott Brooks, after the third quarter said,” were getting some defensive stops. But we have been turning the ball over too many times, but our energy is better allowing us to get the ball in transition and we have not been good on spacing.”

Despite Westbrook, leading all scorers with 18, the Mavs still had the 12 point advantage. Great offensive rebound from the Mavs, were giving great second chances and opportunities for Dallas.

With 10 min left in the fourth, Barea mixes it up in the scrum and comes up with an open shot. The Mavs turned over the ball, and was followed up with a dunk by James Harden.

This is where we first see the Mavs lead starting to diminish. Scott Brooks takes another time out and the result cuts into the lead by 12.

Durant started to move forward with his 19 points in this game. Nowitzki had nine points and was looking for more with, nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Marion wasn’t done for the game as he knocked down another basket. Westbrook soon cut the lead to 10 points. Russel took his focus on getting to the line and put in two foul shots with seven minutes remaining in the game.

With 6:30 left, Dallas’ lead was cut to eight points. Collecting offensive and defensive rebounds, the Thunders James Harden drew another foul, and converted on both baskets. 

Russel Westbrook went on to score 26 points. The Mavs' lead was now seven points, with four minutes remaining in the game. Durant missed a couple foul shots as did Westbrook. This could be the difference maker for the Mavs.

Collison, with a dunk and defensive efficiency cut the lead to 6 points. Collison was very tough on defense, and with two minutes remaining, pooled his resources for more.

Jason Terry had something to say about the game too. He shot and scored a bucket, drawing the margin to eight points. The Thunder was 0-16 from three point land.

With a six-point lead and with under a minute to play, you could put a bow on this present. Add to that another flurry from Dirk Nowitzki on a driving basket and all were well accounted for.

A few more seconds and fouls being called upon the Thunder was all she wrote. At the conclusion of the game, Jason Kidd stated that, “We’ve been up before and we had to keep our composure, as guys stepped up and got shots.”