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The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 on Wednesday by a final score of 104-92. Dallas now leads the Western Conference Semifinals series 3-2. Luka Doncic bounced back with a 31-point triple-double, while players such as Derrick Jones Jr. and PJ Washington also stepped up. However, Mavs rookie Dereck Lively II enjoyed one of the best games of his playoff career.
Lively became the youngest player in Mavericks history to record a double-double in the NBA playoffs. At 20 years and 93 days old, Lively also joined some impressive company. According to Mavs PR, Roy Tarpley, Sam Perkins, Dale Ellis, and Marquis Daniels are the only other rookies in Mavericks history to have double-doubles in the postseason.
Lively has battled through adversity in his rookie season. Being a rookie in the NBA brings enough challenges. However, Lively lost his mother after a cancer battle right before the postseason began.
The Mavericks have had Lively’s back amid such a difficult situation. In fact, the entire city of Dallas has supported the rookie. And Lively’s maturity has shined through it all. He’s hurting, as anyone would after such a tragic loss, but having a great group of players and coaches to lean on helps matters.
Lively playing pivotal role in Mavericks’ playoff run
And Dereck Lively II also happens to be playing a big role in the Mavericks’ playoff run. The Thunder have often turned to fouling Lively in order to send him to the free throw line, but he’s been able to knock down some clutch shots nonetheless. He credited his late mother and his teammates after the game.
“Want to step up and knock them down even more (referring to the free throw attempts after the Thunder intentionally foul him),” Lively said. “You know, I know I got my mom above me. I know she is watching me on the line. She with me. I know I got my teammates backing me up every step of the way… So when they tell me to step up and make it, even if I miss they are going to encourage me to make it. So just being able to have a team like that… I’m grateful for it.”
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving receive the majority of the attention for the Mavs. In the 2024 NBA playoffs, PJ Washington has performed at a high level as well. However, Dallas knew it was going to require a complete team effort to seriously compete in the postseason.
Dallas has had multiple different players make important impacts in each of their victories. Even if it is not in the scoring department, the Mavs have seen players make things happen offensively and defensively.
Whether it is Lively, Derrick Jones Jr., Daniel Gafford, Josh Green or someone else, this Mavericks team features enough depth to contend for an NBA Finals appearance.
However, they still need to focus on winning Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at the moment.
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