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Josh Giddey's underwhelming 2024 NBA Playoffs run saw him get demoted to the bench finally by the OKC Thunder amid their conference semis against the Dallas Mavericks. Giddey's exclusion and reduced minutes had most wondering if he was even in the game.
His status as a starter remains up in the air. The move opened up the Thunder's offense and helped Giddey break out of a slump, as he produced 11 points in 12 minutes on 5 of 8 shooting. He seemed comfortable leading the second unit as the lead guard, as opposed to doing the same with the starting lineup.
The Thunder's bold move may have generated questions about whether Josh Giddey plays, but he is likely to suit up and come off the bench. The Thunder lost Game 5, but it had nothing to do with Giddey's benching. OKC primarily struggled because of another poor collective shooting effort after going 10 of 40 from 3.
Jalen Williams, Lu Dort and Chet Holmgren had rough outings, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the lone bright spot with 30 points, six rebounds and eight assists on 55/50/67 splits. The Thunder again succumbed to a big deficit but failed to overcome it this time as the Mavericks showed experience by learning from their mistakes in Game 4.
Josh Giddey Stats vs. Dallas Mavericks in 2024 NBA Playoffs
Josh Giddey started the playoffs in decent form against the New Orleans Pelicans, contributing 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 47/50/83 splits. However, his averages have dropped by nearly half against Dallas in the conference semis. Giddey has tallied 7.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg and 1.4 apg, shooting 44.1%, including 21.4% from 3.
His lack of 3-point shooting has stagnated the Thunder's offense, especially with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being a low-volume 3-point shooter. Gilgeous-Alexander also has the ball in his hands more, making Giddey a surplus to luxury as an additional ball-handler in the lineup.
Where to watch OKC Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks Game 6?
The OKC Thunder-Dallas Mavericks Game 6 will be live on ABC nationally, while local TV operators Bally Sports Oklahoma and Bally Sports Southwest will also provide coverage. Meanwhile, fans outside the US can catch live action online via NBA League Pass with a subscription. The game begins at 8:00 PM ET at American Airlines Center.
The Mavericks are the favorites to win and prevail in the next round with a -175 money line and a -3.5 spread.
