:format(jpeg):focal(3892x1393:3902x1383)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gfrmedia/DFG5E75FTBHO3IIIUQOX3IF2P4.jpg "Even with Luka Doncic’s knee injury, Dallas takes advantage of playoff series against Thunder")
Dallas- Luka Doncic was already suffering from inflammation in his right knee and pain in his left ankle. Suddenly, he fell and hit his back, while he was fighting for a lost ball with Lu Dort, the main person in charge of marking it.
Doncic didn’t just win the jump ball that came after that play. The NBA scoring champion tracked down the ball that then drifted away as the Mavericks clung to a slim lead.
A few minutes after the game Doncic was asked what hurt him.
“Everything,” he responded. “I’m just fighting there.”
The same can be said of several of his colleagues.
Kyrie Irving scored 22 points to help the dallas won on Saturday 105-101 at Oklahoma City Thundertaking a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
Doncic scored 22 points with 15 rebounds, and PJ Washington added 27 points, just two shy of his playoff high, set in the previous game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, but was fouled for a charging with Doncic defending with 29 seconds left and the Thunder trailing by five.
Oklahoma City has lost consecutive games after starting 5-0 in the playoffs. Game 4 is Monday night in Dallas.
Lively scored 12 points, eight of them on free throws, and eight rebounds.
Mavericks center Daniel Gafford exited in the second quarter after injuring his left shoulder in an unintentional collision with Josh Giddey. He returned to the court for the second half, but finished with just 19 minutes, scoring eight points.
Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams finished with 16 points and eight assists. Isaiah Joe finished with 13.
Chet Holmgren had 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocks as the Thunder finished with 10 blocks.
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