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 at the moment trails. As OKC offers with its first true check of adversity this postseason, coach Mark Daigneault hopes his staff can depend on muscle reminiscence constructed by the common season to beat.

“I’ve actually by no means seen this staff out of character,” he stated. “Particularly the following day. Perhaps in a sport or in a second of a sport we’ll break character. However we’re at all times good the following day. We’ve to enhance by 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 advised 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 could’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 collaborating within the postseason for the primary time in his profession.

“We all know he’s a extremely good participant,” Daigneault stated of Washington. “However you need to decide what your priorities [are]. When you have 10 priorities towards a staff, 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 probably feels disrespected by OKC’s resolution to go away him open for wide-open pictures from the corners.

That he retains draining these makes an attempt burn extra confidence into the psyches of playmakers Doncic and Irving to search out the 25-year-old. Washington is connecting these final two video games at 53.7% total and 52.2% on 3-pointers.

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

“He’s hooping,” Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “We’ve received to show that water off if we need to win the sequence, for positive.”

2. The sport inside the sport

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

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

As Doncic walked away, Dort well approached Kennedy to supply his aspect.

Dort performed a serious function in OKC limiting Doncic to 7-for-17 capturing 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 stated 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 little thing. You’re gonna get the perfect of him on some performs, on some nights. Nevertheless it gained’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 stated.

3. The Giddey dilemma

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

Dallas continues to go away the 21-year-old open on the 3-point line, however Giddey hasn’t made the Mavs pay constantly sufficient to proceed enjoying him his regular allotment of minutes. The third-year man shot 4-for-8 from the sector 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 flattening 5-for-7, together with 3-for-4 from past the arc.

Certainly, the Mavs anticipate the Thunder turning to an alternative choice to Giddey, doubtlessly 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 should make noise within the paint

The Thunder ranked among the many high 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 eight 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 staff,” Thunder ahead Jalen Inexperienced stated. “So, you need to attempt to discover a steadiness of when to assault and get angles to complete. However I believe loads of it, too, is attempting to occupy and skim what they’re giving so far as that goes.”

SGA seems to be probably 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 sport. By 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 stated. “They’ve good rim safety and dimension on the wings and with their bigs. It’s [about] being aggressive and being sensible.”

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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 comply with him on X.

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