4 things to look for in Game 4

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DALLAS – Oklahoma Metropolis stormed to a 5-0 begin this postseason, however its youthful bounce has been weakened these final two video games by the brute physicality of the Dallas Mavericks.

The younger Thunder possess brisker legs, extra total depth, and the pace to even this sequence it presently trails. As OKC offers with its first true take a look at of adversity this postseason, coach Mark Daigneault hopes his group can depend on muscle reminiscence constructed via the common season to beat.

“I’ve actually by no means seen this group out of character,” he mentioned. “Particularly the following day. Possibly in a recreation or in a second of a recreation we’ll break character. However we’re at all times good the following day. Now we have to enhance via the sequence.”

The query is how headed to Recreation 4 in Dallas, the place the Mavs have misplaced solely as soon as all through the playoffs.

Listed here are 4 issues to search for in Recreation 4 (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT):

1.Time for OKC to reorder “priorities”

When you instructed OKC earlier than the beginning of this sequence that superstars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving would mix to common 40.3 factors over the primary three contests, it will’ve gladly signed up.

The issue is the Thunder didn’t account for the additional 28-point common that Dallas would obtain from P.J. Washington these final two video games. The previous Charlotte Hornet is taking part within the postseason for the primary time in his profession.

“We all know he’s a extremely good participant,” Daigneault mentioned of Washington. “However it’s a must to decide what your priorities [are]. When you’ve got 10 priorities in opposition to a group, that’s the place you actually hemorrhage. So, you’ve received to find out your priorities. We expect we’ve performed that.”

Time to do it once more.

These final two video games constructed confidence for the already hungry Washington, who additionally seemingly feels disrespected by OKC’s determination to routinely go away him open within the corners for broad open photographs.

And him persevering with to empty these makes an attempt burns extra confidence into the psyches of playmakers Doncic and Irving to search out the 25-year previous. Washington is connecting these final two video games at a clip of 53.7% from the sphere and 52.2% from past the arc.

Dallas is 4-2 this postseason when Washington scores 20 factors or extra.

“He’s hooping,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “We’ve received to show that water off if we wish to win the sequence, for positive.”

2. The sport inside the recreation

Throughout a break in play in Recreation 3, an exasperated Doncic approached referee Invoice Kennedy along with his palms out demonstrating the techniques Luguentz Dort was using to protect him.

“He can’t guard me like this,” Doncic instructed Kennedy. “He’s been doing it the entire recreation. C’mon man.”

As Doncic walked away, Dort well approached Kennedy to offer his facet.

Dort performed a significant function in OKC limiting Doncic to 7-for-17 taking pictures in Recreation 3, however he fouled out with 7.2 seconds left and the Mavs main by 3.

“He’s gonna make nice performs,” Daigneault mentioned of Doncic. “How a lot are you able to make him exert? How a lot are you able to make him work? That’s Lu’s deal. He’s gonna make you earn every part. You’re gonna get the perfect of him on some performs, on some nights. However it received’t be unearned.”

We’ll see how issues unfold in Recreation 4, arguably crucial matchup of this sequence. 

“[Doncic is] at all times going to have a dialog with the officers,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd mentioned.

3. The Josh Giddey dilemma

First off, Oklahoma Metropolis guard Josh Giddey being a minus-28 in 41 minutes all through this sequence shouldn’t be an indictment on his prowess as a basketball participant. It’s extra indicative of his match inside the chess recreation of playoff matchups.

Dallas continues to depart the 21-year-old open on the 3-point line, however Giddey hasn’t made the Mavs pay constantly sufficient to proceed taking part in him his regular allotment of minutes. The third-year man shot 4-for-8 from the sphere and 1-for-4 from deep in Recreation 3.

That’s led to elevated minutes for Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe and Cason Wallace. The trio mixed to shoot 9-for-17 for 22 factors, with Joe main the best way flattening 5-for-7, together with 3-for-4 from past the arc.

Certainly, the Mavs anticipate the Thunder turning to an alternative to Giddey, probably within the beginning lineup.

Oklahoma Metropolis has tried a number of methods to mitigate Giddey’s legal responsibility on each ends of the ground, however nothing has confirmed efficient constantly.

4. Thunder need/have to make noise within the paint

The Thunder ranked among the many prime 10 within the league in the course of the common season in factors within the paint (52.5), however we’ve seen that quantity dip by almost 8 factors all through the Western Convention semifinals.

Credit score the protection of Dallas bigs Daniel Gafford and Dereck Vigorous II for taking away OKC’s bread and butter.

“They’ve received two good rim protectors on their group,” Thunder ahead Jalen Inexperienced mentioned. “So, it’s a must to attempt to discover a steadiness of when to assault and get angles to complete. However I believe lots of it, too, is making an attempt to occupy and browse what they’re giving so far as that goes.”

SGA seems to be essentially the most affected by Dallas’ dominance on the rim. The 25-year previous ranked sixth within the NBA within the common season in factors within the paint, averaging 14.3 per recreation. Via the primary three video games of this sequence, he’s averaging 11.7.

The Mavericks outscored the Thunder by 14 factors within the paint in Recreation 3.

“Be decisive and be smarter with our assaults,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “They’ve good rim safety and measurement on the wings and with their bigs. It’s [about] being aggressive and being good.”

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Michael C. Wright is a senior author for NBA.com. You may e-mail him right here, discover his archive right here and observe him on X.

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