basketball
Dallas starts the second NBA playoff round with a loss
Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (l) pulls to the basket against Oklahoma forward Jaylin Williams. photo
© Nate Billings/FR171660 AP/AP
The Dallas Mavericks have no chance against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the start of the second round of the NBA playoffs. The Boston Celtics dominate their opening game against Cleveland.
The Dallas Mavericks have the first game of the second round series NBA playoffs lost significantly to the Oklahoma City Thunder. On Tuesday (local time) the Texans had to admit defeat to the best West team in the main round with 95:117 (53:62). The second game of the best-of-seven series in the North American Basketball League will take place again in Oklahoma City on Thursday (local time).
Dallas was able to keep the game even until the middle of the third quarter, then the Thunder pulled away by double digits. The decision came in the middle of the final period when Dallas remained without points for four and a half minutes and had to let go after a 0:9 run to make it 89:113. While Dallas’ superstar Luka Doncic fell short of expectations with 19 points, the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander impressed with 29 points. Both are two of three candidates for the most valuable player award of the season.
German basketball player Maxi Kleber was missing from the Mavericks due to a shoulder injury he sustained in the final game of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers. It is questionable whether Kleber can be used again in the playoffs.
In the Eastern Conference, the best team in the main round also achieved a clear victory at the start of the second round. The Boston Celtics won 120:95 (59:49) against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Celtics opened the game with a 12-2 run and were consistently ahead by double digits from the middle of the second quarter. Jaylen Brown (32 points) and Derrick White (25 points) led the Celtics and combined to hit eleven of Boston’s 18 three-pointers. Donovon Mitchell was the Cavaliers’ best scorer with 33 points.