Thunder Even Series With Mavericks; Celtics Take Commanding Lead Over Cavaliers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 of his 34 points in the second half to rally the Oklahoma City Thunder from a 14-point deficit, securing a crucial 100-96 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of a Western Conference semifinal series. Chet Holmgren contributed 11 of his 18 points after half-time and added nine rebounds, helping the top-seeded Thunder even the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

The fifth-seeded Mavericks missed an opportunity to put the Thunder on the brink of elimination despite setting a franchise play-off record with 13 blocks, including four each from Derrick Jones Jr. and rookie Dereck Lively II. Jones finished with 17 points, while Luka Dončić registered a triple-double for Dallas with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.

The Mavericks led for most of the game and held an 86-80 advantage just past the midway point of the fourth quarter before Oklahoma City began its late surge. The Thunder seized momentum with a 12-2 run, capped by consecutive 3-pointers from Holmgren and Luguentz Dort, to go up 92-88 with 2:14 remaining.

Dallas responded with Tim Hardaway Jr.'s 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, but back-to-back baskets by Jalen Williams gave Oklahoma City a 96-91 lead entering the final minute. The Mavericks had a chance to tie it when Dončić was fouled with 10.1 seconds left and Dallas trailing 96-94. The MVP finalist made just one of his two shots, and the Thunder sealed the outcome by going 4 for 4 from the foul line in the closing moments.

Free throw shooting played a significant role in the result, as Oklahoma City finished 23 of 24 from the line compared to Dallas' 12 of 23. The Mavericks held a 54-43 lead at half-time after limiting the Thunder to under 35 per cent shooting for the first two quarters and stretched the margin to 14 when P.J. Washington hit a 3-pointer to begin the third.

Oklahoma City closed the gap before the end of the period, ending the third quarter on a 9-2 run to pull within 69-65 entering the fourth.

In the East, the top-seeded Boston Celtics moved within one game of reaching the conference finals for a third straight year after posting a 109-102 Game 4 win over the shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers. Jayson Tatum led Boston with 33 points and 11 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown added 27 points to help Boston take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

The Cavaliers were without leading scorer Donovan Mitchell due to a strained left calf sustained in Cleveland's Game 3 loss. Additionally, starting center Jarrett Allen remained sidelined with a rib contusion. Darius Garland kept Cleveland competitive by producing 30 points and seven assists, while Caris LeVert had 19 points starting in place of Mitchell.

Boston can close out the series at home in Wednesday's Game 5. Tatum set an early tone, scoring16 points on six-of-nine shooting in the first quarter to give Boston a 37-30 lead after one period. The All-Star forward closed out the first half with a three-pointer that sent Boston into half-time with a five-point advantage at 62-57.

Cleveland opened the third quarter on an eight-to-two run to move ahead by one point three minutes into the second half. However, Boston reasserted control by outscoring Cleveland by a fourteen-to-four margin over the next four-and-a-half minutes. Brown had seven points during this spurt, which Derrick White capped with a three-pointer for a nine-point Celtics' lead.

The Celtics stretched their lead to fifteen points with under eight minutes left, though Cleveland kept battling and put together a twelve-to-two run to close within five points with three minutes left to play. Brown hit a clutch three-pointer with just over one minute remaining to put Boston up by eight points, and White and Tatum each made two free throws in the closing stages to secure victory.