P.J. WASHINGTON converted two go-ahead free throws as Dallas Mavericks escaped with a 117-116 victory over Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals on Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines) at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Down 115-116 after an alley-oop dunk by Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, Washington drew a foul from OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander while attempting from the three-point area with 2.5 seconds.
Washington drilled his first two free throws to give the Mavericks a 117-116 lead before he intentionally missed his third free throw to prevent the Thunder from attempting another basket.
Washington finished the game with nine points, five rebounds, and two assists as the Mavericks closed out the best-of-seven series, 4-2, to move on to the Western Conference finals.
Luka Doncic led the way with a triple-double of 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Kyrie Irving and Derrick Jones Jr. added 22 markers apiece for the Mavericks.
Gilgeous-Alexander top-scored for the top-seed Thunder with 36 points, while Jaylen Williams and Holmgren contributed 22 and 21 markers, respectively.
Meanwhile, Indiana Pacers stayed alive in the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals after a 116-103 Game 6 victory over New York Knicks at the Gainbridge FieldHouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Down 29-30 after the opening quarter, the Pacers leaned on conversions from Paskal Siakam, Myles Turner, and Tyrese Haliburton in the second period to build a 61-51 halftime lead.
The Pacers continued its run in the second half with Siakam connecting his perimeter hits as the lead stretched to as high as 109-89 in the fourth quarter after a conversion from Haliburton.
Siakam top-scored for the Pacers with 25 points, Turner added 17 markers, Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, and TJ McConnell had 15 apiece and Obi Toppin contributed 11 points./PN
BOX SCORE:
DALLAS 117 — Doncic 29, Jones 22, Irving 22, Lively 12, Gafford 10, Washington 9, Green 6, Hardy 5, Hardaway 2.
OKLAHOMA CITY 116 — Gilgeous-Alexander 36, Jal. Williams 22, Holmgren 21, Dort 11, Joe 11, Jay. Williams 6, Wallace 5, Giddey 2, K. Williams 2, Wiggins 0.
Quarterscores: 30-23, 64-48, 90-83, 117-116.
