NBA Playoffs 2011: Dirk Nowitzki Silences Oklahoma City Thunder for 3-1 Lead

Game 4 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks in OKC reminds us of a theme song called Anything you can do, I can do better.

This attitude with altitude brings us back to the two championships, (1988, 1989) for the Detroit Pistons versus the Los Angeles Lakers. CBS was using the theme song for the matchup between Magic Johnson and Isaiah Thomas in their coverage of the Finals.

In the first few minutes of Monday’s game, Dirk Nowitzki, hoists one up—scoring first.

Following Nowitzki at the other end was Serge Ibaka, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, in that order. The Thunder had taken an eight-point lead early on.

With minutes remaining in the first quarter, coach Rick Carlisle took his first timeout.

Durant was a perfect 8-for-8 from the field.  Then it was Russell Westbrook who converted off a fast break. Jason Kidd hits a three, and we now bring the score 12-8 in favor of OKC.

Just when you thought the Mavs were coming back from this onslaught, the Thunder raced out to a 10-point lead, 18-8. Durant went with another jumper and followed it up with a tomahawk dunk.

The Thunder already had six fast-break points. At 3:27 remaining in the first quarter, Westbrook scored one off the glass, followed by a Thabo Sefolosha jumper and layup.

During the Mavs timeout, Thunder coach Scott Brooks huddled up with his team explaining, “Face out the challenges, contest every shot and use your quickness.”

As like a genius being tested, Nick Collison started knocking down shots from the perimeter. Collison also made some nice feeds underneath and an offensive push up the court.

Dallas forced a turnover, one of many, which led Shawn Marion to collect a dunk. At the end of the quarter, the Thunder led by nine, 31-22.

During the second quarter, we notice Dallas coach Rick Carlisle say, “Collison is the best post defender in the game today.”

Serge Ibaka followed those comments with jumpers for OKC, while the Thunder drew two fouls, both from Brendan Heywood and Dirk Nowitzki respectively.

The relentless Dirk Nowitzki knocked down a three, as Nick Collison hit from the other side. OKC was shooting 61 percent from the field, this time with 9:00 minutes left until the half.

At that juncture, the score was 43-35, Thunder. A few more trips down the floor and OKC convert their baskets, bringing the lead to 10.

No sooner than the blink of an eye, Nowitzki cuts the lead to five points, with two minutes remaining before halftime. Nowitzki has 18 points at this juncture.

Coming off the bench, Sefolosha steals the ball and scores a reverse layup.

With the remaining time left on the clock, Nowitzki showed up again versus Westbrook on a reverse pivot jumper and converted on a foul shot for a three-point play. It might be of note to say that, Nowitzki’s free-throw percentage is .92.

With 1:20 remaining in the second quarter, the Mavs were down by four.

At the half, Carlisle stated that, “We need to rebound better and have fewer turnovers.” Magic Johnson, Jon Barry, Michael Wilbon and Stuart Scott had this to say in the studio. “Dirk has 22 points, but Kevin Durant only has eight shots, why so few?” “He ought to have at least 12 or 13 shots.”

Beginning with the third quarter, the Mavs come out with great defense and the 24-second buzzer rang on OKC for taking too much time.

During the second time down the floor, the Thunder missed a shot, and next, Sefolosha scores two from the charity stripe. Kidd knocks down a three.

OKC is up eight midway through the third quarter.

Just before the start of the fourth quarter, Carlisle had this to say this to his team, “We just got to hang in we have to stop giving second shots and giving our hand away.”

Getting to the foul line was no problem after the start of the fourth quarter. Starting off, Durant knocks down a foul shot, while Tyson Chandler for the Thunder gets to the line and knocks down both.  

Westbrook was a leading rebounder in the NBA this year. With 1:09 remaining in the third quarter, Marion got to the foul line for two shots. 

With the final quarter rolling in, J.J. Barea throws in a layup, as stated by play-by-play announcer Mark Jackson, “Barea got the layup off the pick and roll.”

With Harden, “a potential starter for the Thunder” said by Mark Jackson, his two-point conversion had Carlisle call a time out. OKC now has a nine point lead. Scott Brooks went on to say, “I need defense every time, just play as hard as you can and we come out a winner.”

“Let's figure out ways we should play better, don’t wish you played better, instead play your minutes hard and we win this game tonight.” stated Brooks to his team at halftime.

Nowitzki was at it again, and tied the game with .7 seconds remaining. The score at this juncture was 107-107.

With the five-minute overtime, the Thunder is in disbelief that the score is tied.

In overtime, Nowitzki gets to the line first and collects both free throws. Sefolosha ties the game with a long range jumper at 3:30 left in the game. 

With Dallas up by two, the Mavs get the ball back after a loose ball. Serge Ibaka then ties the game with 1:45 remaining. Durant then draws a foul, with the score tied at 105. 

With 45 seconds remaining, Jason Kidd knocks down a three-pointer, with referee review. At 30 seconds left in O/T, Carlisle calls a time out with a three-point lead.

The Mavs come out of the T/O and collect a defensive rebound. There was a non shooting foul which allows for a throw in from the side line. This is where we see the veteran status of the Mavericks come to light. Kidd throws the ball into the back court for Jason Terry.

Perhaps the Thunder did not anticipate this event clearly enough within the rules, it allows for a winding the clock down enough to win the ball game. The final score of the game was 112-105 in favor of the Mavs.

After the game, Nowitzki has this comment, “Second chance shots and great stops got us rebounds, and we needed to get some stops.”