“D live went stupid” - Luka Doncic’s teammate lauds Dereck Lively for heroic performance to clinch West Finals
The Dallas Mavericks, in a prime example of team effort fueled by Luka Doncic, Dereck Lively, PJ Washington, and Kyrie Irving, overcame the top-seeded OKC Thunder on Saturday. With the 117-116 win, the Mavericks advance to the Western Conference finals to face the winner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets series.
Following the win, Mavericks forward PJ Washington took to 'X', formerly called Twitter, to shout out the rookie center who was remarkable the whole series.
"D live went stupid"
The concluding moments marked a thrilling fourth quarter, characterized by five lead changes and two ties in the last five minutes, a stark turnaround after the Thunder had dominated for nearly the entire game.
Rookie center Dereck Lively emerged as a standout performer in Dallas' Game 6 victory over OKC. Demonstrating exceptional defensive skills, Lively made a significant impact with a +26 rating, surpassing all Mavericks players. He held his own against Chet Holmgren at the center position, showcasing his versatility and defensive prowess.
Kyrie Irving and Derrick Jones Jr. each contributed 22 points for Dallas, with Jones achieving a playoff career-high for the second consecutive game.
PJ Washington concluded with nine points, five rebounds and two assists on 2 of 6 shooting from the field, including 2 of 5 from the distance. Meanwhile, Dereck Lively secured a solid double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds, including three assists, a steal and a block. Lively shot efficiently, going 5 of 6 from the field at 83.3%.
PJ Washington and Dereck Lively continue to be unsung heroes for Dallas Mavericks
PJ Washington, who was the best scorer for Dallas in this series, ahead of Irving and only behind Luka Doncic, remained scoreless until the fourth quarter. However, he quickly made an impact, scoring nine crucial points, including tying and go-ahead 3-pointers before sinking the winning free throws.
Washington was inadvertently hit by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on a 3-point attempt following Chet Holmgren's alley-oop dunk, assisted by his star guard, put the Thunder ahead 116-115 with just 20 seconds remaining ensuing their side out of bounds coming from a timeout.
Although Oklahoma City challenged the call, replay confirmed Gilgeous-Alexander's foul on PJ Washington's arm as he went up to shoot.
After sinking the first two free throws to give Dallas the lead, Washington intentionally missed the third with the Thunder out of timeouts following the challenge. Holmgren then passed to Jalen Williams, whose desperate shot from well beyond half-court fell short.