NBA
1/8 Finals Round 3: Dallas M. - Oklah.City T. 79-95
Date: May 3, 2012
Kevin Durant (6'9'-G/F-88, college: Texas) slowed the tempo as he dribbled toward a deflated Dallas Mavericks defense. Given such a rare open 3-point shot, Durant instinctively swished the jumper a basket that came with five minutes still to play yet symbolized how the Oklahoma City Thunder have imposed its will on the reigning N.B.A. champions. Using youthful speed, savvy shooting and numbing defense, the Thunder finally exposed the aging Mavericks in a 95-79 victory in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinals, a rout that ended with about half the sellout crowd of 20,640 fans already gone from the American Airline Center. Durant scored 31 points and Russell Westbrook (6'3'-PG-88, college: UCLA) had 20 points as Oklahoma City took a 3-0 series lead and will look to sweep Dallas here Saturday night. James Harden (6'5'-G-89, college: Arizona St.), Derek Fisher (6'1'-PG-74, college: UALR) and Serge Ibaka (6'10'-C/F-89) added 10 points each. No team in N.B.A. history has rebounded from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series, and after Oklahoma City broke the Mavericks with a 30-12 second-half run for an 86-60 lead with 10 minutes left, the defending champs appear incapable of slowing down the Thunder. We know we havent done anything yet, said Durant, who shook off what was considered a shooting slump (15 of 44) by his standards, making 11 of 15 attempts Thursday night. We played two close-out games last year and know how tough they were. We have to come out with a sense of urgency and know those guys will bring it Saturday especially in their building. Dirk Nowitzki (7'0'-F-78) managed only 17 points and Jason Kidd (6'4'-PG-73, college: California) had 12 for Dallas, which shot 34 percent to the Thunders 42 percent. Jason Terry (6'2'-PG-77, college: Arizona) was the only other Mavericks player in double figures with 11 points. Ibaka added the most emphasis to Oklahoma Citys gritty defense, making four of the teams seven blocks, including one against Terry that sent the ball into the seats five rows deep. They threw a heck of a game at us, said Nowitzki, who finished 6 of 15. We played two pretty good games at Oklahoma City and couldnt find a way to steal one. Now weve got to show some pride on Saturday and try to win one game. Durant broke loose for 21 points in the first half, nearly matching his 25.5 average for the first two games, as the Thunder took a 50-41 lead. Nowitzki and Kidd led Dallas with 10 points apiece, but the Mavericks couldnt establish any momentum and never led in the first half, falling behind by as many as 15 points twice. Some of it was at times we got down and got a little frantic to try and make things happen, Carlisle said. That led to some mistakes. We havent had a good shooting game yet in this series, the kind were capable of, and its frustrating. Fisher and Westbrook tamped down a key Dallas run in the second quarter, drilling back-to-back 3-pointers for a 48-33 lead with 3:51 left. After Westbrook hit his shot, he turned to the Thunder bench and blew the smoke off an imaginary pair of guns as he pretended to holster them. Clearly, Oklahoma City appeared to be measuring Dallas for Thursday nights blowout and was not intimated this time by the Mavericks, who had ousted the Thunder in five games of last years Western Conference finals. You have to win four, said Oklahoma City Coach Scott Brooks. Well play every game like its the most important game. Weve done that all year and continue to do that. (The Mavericks) have pride, theyre not going to give you anything. Theyre going to make you earn it. After losing Games 1 and 2 by a combined four points, the Mavericks believed they needed to push back at what they viewed as chippy tactics being used by the Thunder. That frustration surfaced in Game 2 when an agitated Nowitzki threw a shoulder into Kendrick Perkins chest and the two briefly scuffled. Indeed, Oklahoma City certainly has been more aggressive with the Mavericks than it was in last years playoffs. And without the inside muscle of center Tyson Chandler, who signed with the Knicks in the offseason and this week was named the leagues defensive player of the year, Dallas has struggled in dealing with the Thunders physical style. Being home, weve got to dictate a lot of that stuff in our own building, Carlisle said prior to tipoff. Thats on us, and weve got to do it the right way. We got to do it without being dirty and without going after people and intentionally hurting anybody and that kind of stuff. But its supposed to be physical. Its the playoffs. The Mavericks then promptly fell behind by 15 points, before Carlisle flew into a rage and came off the bench to scream about a call with 4 minutes to go in the first quarter. He was quickly slapped with a technical, the second assessed to Dallas in the quarter; Nowitzki earlier had earned a technical after being outmaneuvered for an offensive rebound by Serge Ibaka, fouling the Thunder forward, and then having a few terse words with the referee. There was some distraction there. Look, theres been some frustration with the officials, but were not going to make it about the officials. Its a long game, Carlisle said afterward. Carlisles attempt to manufacture a spark worked briefly. The Mavericks closed within 32-26 at the end of the first quarter, and they rallied again to pull within nine points at halftime. But age and experience was no match in the second half against the energized Thunder. Courtesy of www.nytimes.com
Terms:
Field Goals : 2PM-A (2 point Field Goal made-attempts) 3PM-A (3 point Field Goal made-attempts) FTM-A (free throws made-attempt)
Rebounds : OFF (Offensive) DEF (Defensive) TOT (total)
Fouls : CM (Committed) RV (received)
Blocks : FV (In Favor) AG (Against)
Other terms : MIN (minutes) AST (assists) ST (steals) TO (Turnovers) PTS (points) RNK (ranking)
1/8 Finals Round 3: Dallas M. - Oklah.City T. 79-95
Date: May 3, 2012
Kevin Durant (6'9'-G/F-88, college: Texas) slowed the tempo as he dribbled toward a deflated Dallas Mavericks defense. Given such a rare open 3-point shot, Durant instinctively swished the jumper a basket that came with five minutes still to play yet symbolized how the Oklahoma City Thunder have imposed its will on the reigning N.B.A. champions. Using youthful speed, savvy shooting and numbing defense, the Thunder finally exposed the aging Mavericks in a 95-79 victory in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinals, a rout that ended with about half the sellout crowd of 20,640 fans already gone from the American Airline Center. Durant scored 31 points and Russell Westbrook (6'3'-PG-88, college: UCLA) had 20 points as Oklahoma City took a 3-0 series lead and will look to sweep Dallas here Saturday night. James Harden (6'5'-G-89, college: Arizona St.), Derek Fisher (6'1'-PG-74, college: UALR) and Serge Ibaka (6'10'-C/F-89) added 10 points each. No team in N.B.A. history has rebounded from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series, and after Oklahoma City broke the Mavericks with a 30-12 second-half run for an 86-60 lead with 10 minutes left, the defending champs appear incapable of slowing down the Thunder. We know we havent done anything yet, said Durant, who shook off what was considered a shooting slump (15 of 44) by his standards, making 11 of 15 attempts Thursday night. We played two close-out games last year and know how tough they were. We have to come out with a sense of urgency and know those guys will bring it Saturday especially in their building. Dirk Nowitzki (7'0'-F-78) managed only 17 points and Jason Kidd (6'4'-PG-73, college: California) had 12 for Dallas, which shot 34 percent to the Thunders 42 percent. Jason Terry (6'2'-PG-77, college: Arizona) was the only other Mavericks player in double figures with 11 points. Ibaka added the most emphasis to Oklahoma Citys gritty defense, making four of the teams seven blocks, including one against Terry that sent the ball into the seats five rows deep. They threw a heck of a game at us, said Nowitzki, who finished 6 of 15. We played two pretty good games at Oklahoma City and couldnt find a way to steal one. Now weve got to show some pride on Saturday and try to win one game. Durant broke loose for 21 points in the first half, nearly matching his 25.5 average for the first two games, as the Thunder took a 50-41 lead. Nowitzki and Kidd led Dallas with 10 points apiece, but the Mavericks couldnt establish any momentum and never led in the first half, falling behind by as many as 15 points twice. Some of it was at times we got down and got a little frantic to try and make things happen, Carlisle said. That led to some mistakes. We havent had a good shooting game yet in this series, the kind were capable of, and its frustrating. Fisher and Westbrook tamped down a key Dallas run in the second quarter, drilling back-to-back 3-pointers for a 48-33 lead with 3:51 left. After Westbrook hit his shot, he turned to the Thunder bench and blew the smoke off an imaginary pair of guns as he pretended to holster them. Clearly, Oklahoma City appeared to be measuring Dallas for Thursday nights blowout and was not intimated this time by the Mavericks, who had ousted the Thunder in five games of last years Western Conference finals. You have to win four, said Oklahoma City Coach Scott Brooks. Well play every game like its the most important game. Weve done that all year and continue to do that. (The Mavericks) have pride, theyre not going to give you anything. Theyre going to make you earn it. After losing Games 1 and 2 by a combined four points, the Mavericks believed they needed to push back at what they viewed as chippy tactics being used by the Thunder. That frustration surfaced in Game 2 when an agitated Nowitzki threw a shoulder into Kendrick Perkins chest and the two briefly scuffled. Indeed, Oklahoma City certainly has been more aggressive with the Mavericks than it was in last years playoffs. And without the inside muscle of center Tyson Chandler, who signed with the Knicks in the offseason and this week was named the leagues defensive player of the year, Dallas has struggled in dealing with the Thunders physical style. Being home, weve got to dictate a lot of that stuff in our own building, Carlisle said prior to tipoff. Thats on us, and weve got to do it the right way. We got to do it without being dirty and without going after people and intentionally hurting anybody and that kind of stuff. But its supposed to be physical. Its the playoffs. The Mavericks then promptly fell behind by 15 points, before Carlisle flew into a rage and came off the bench to scream about a call with 4 minutes to go in the first quarter. He was quickly slapped with a technical, the second assessed to Dallas in the quarter; Nowitzki earlier had earned a technical after being outmaneuvered for an offensive rebound by Serge Ibaka, fouling the Thunder forward, and then having a few terse words with the referee. There was some distraction there. Look, theres been some frustration with the officials, but were not going to make it about the officials. Its a long game, Carlisle said afterward. Carlisles attempt to manufacture a spark worked briefly. The Mavericks closed within 32-26 at the end of the first quarter, and they rallied again to pull within nine points at halftime. But age and experience was no match in the second half against the energized Thunder. Courtesy of www.nytimes.com
 DALLAS M. (coach: Jason Kidd)79 |
| FIELD GOALS | REBOUNDS | FOULS | BLOCKS | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | NAME | MIN | 2PM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OFF | DEF | RB | AS | F | RV | ST | FV | AG | TO | PT | RNK | +/- |
| 36 | XITaUJVa, gaQV | 47 | 1-63 (38.7%) | 5-6 (5%) | 0-2 (18.0%) | 6 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 69 | 64 | 5 |
| 8 | Kadd, zisIj | 43 | 8-1 (44.4%) | 8-1 (44.4%) | 8-8 (655%) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 68 | 65 | 5 |
| 5 | biQaIj, AhiTj | 43 | 6-0 (85%) | 5-4 (5%) | 3-3 (655%) | 4 | 9 | 65 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
| 46 | wRQQF, zisIj | 46 | 6-0 (85%) | 8-0 (35%) | 4-3 (90%) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 66 | 1 | 5 |
| 80 | CiQURQ, kajZR | 89 | 6-0 (85%) | 6-4 (44.4%) | 8-8 (655%) | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 9 | -8 | 5 |
| 64 | WRsU, gRlIjUR | 67 | 4-0 (15%) | 5-5 (5%) | 4-4 (655%) | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 5 |
| 82 | bihajBa, oij | 61 | 8-4 (11.9%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 8 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 43 | WQaDhU, mQijdij | 7 | 6-8 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 5 |
| 40 | CiQdajil, mQaij | 2 | 5-6 (5%) | 6-6 (655%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 44 | HiFTIId, mQRjdij | 9 | 6-3 (80%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6-8 (05%) | 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | -6 | 5 |
| 4 | mRiuMIas, eIdQaDuR | 9 | 5-5 (5%) | 5-6 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| SJuMuaVR, KRlRjji | 0 | 5-8 (5%) | 6-6 (655%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 5 | |
| Ya, zaijlaij | 0 | 6-8 (05%) | 5-6 (5%) | 5-6 (5%) | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | |
| wIUil | 67-03 (40.8%) | 9-88 (46.2%) | 85-81 (91.7%) | 7 | 49 | 31 | 60 | 61 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 60 | 97 | 14 | |||
 OKLAH.CITY T. (coach: Mark Daigneault)95 |
| FIELD GOALS | REBOUNDS | FOULS | BLOCKS | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | NAME | MIN | 2PM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OFF | DEF | RB | AS | F | RV | ST | FV | AG | TO | PT | RNK | +/- |
| 40 | guQijU, KRLaj | 35 | 9-7 (99.2%) | 3-1 (11.9%) | 0-9 (96.3%) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 46 | 44 | 5 |
| 5 | WRsUMQIIV, eussRll | 48 | 1-63 (38.7%) | 8-0 (35%) | 8-3 (05%) | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 85 | 68 | 5 |
| 0 | ORQVajs, KRjdQaZV | 87 | 6-3 (80%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 8 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 5 |
| 7 | oMiVi, ARQDR | 89 | 0-9 (96.3%) | 5-6 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 3 | 9 | 66 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 65 | 67 | 5 |
| 64 | HiQdRj, ziBRs | 81 | 4-2 (49.0%) | 5-8 (5%) | 3-1 (11.9%) | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 65 | 9 | 5 |
| yashRQ, gRQRV | 80 | 8-0 (35%) | 8-3 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 65 | 1 | 5 | |
| 8 | ARfIlIshi, whiMI | 69 | 5-4 (5%) | 6-4 (44.4%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| 3 | CIllasIj, XaZV | 64 | 5-6 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | -6 | 5 |
| 63 | CIIV, giREuij | 66 | 5-6 (5%) | 4-1 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 5 |
| HiFTiQd, viJiQ | 0 | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| 30 | SldQaZh, CIlR | 0 | 5-4 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | -6 | 5 |
| 2 | bIhiBBRd, XiJQ | 0 | 5-6 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 9 | oLRF, eIFil | 0 | 5-6 (5%) | 5-6 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | -8 | 5 |
| wIUil | 83-09 (38.6%) | 68-82 (38.7%) | 66-69 (13.9%) | 7 | 41 | 30 | 62 | 85 | 5 | 66 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 70 | 74 | |||
Terms:
Field Goals : 2PM-A (2 point Field Goal made-attempts) 3PM-A (3 point Field Goal made-attempts) FTM-A (free throws made-attempt)
Rebounds : OFF (Offensive) DEF (Defensive) TOT (total)
Fouls : CM (Committed) RV (received)
Blocks : FV (In Favor) AG (Against)
Other terms : MIN (minutes) AST (assists) ST (steals) TO (Turnovers) PTS (points) RNK (ranking)
