Dallas Mavericks Were 'One Point Better' In Series-Clinching Victory - GIVEMESPORT

Highlights

• Dallas edged out OKC in Game 6 with a single point, advancing to the West Finals.
• A controversial foul from SGA on a three-pointer by Washington was the game-changer.
• OKC should be proud of exceeding expectations, focusing on future growth and potential roster modifications.

One point was all that separated the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder when the former took home a series-clinching 117-116 victory in Game 6 to advance to the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs.

Of course, it ended in a controversial fashion. A foul by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on a three-pointer from PJ Washington proved to be the difference when Washington made two of three free throws to give Dallas the lead for good.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault did not stress too much on the foul or the loss, giving his remarks to the Mavericks about winning the series.

“They were one point better. Congrats to Dallas, all due respect to them.” - Mark Daigneault

What Went Down In the Final Minute of Game 6

The 3-Point Foul By SGA Ended OKC's Season

Game 6 was a back-and-forth affair between the Mavericks and Thunder. Oklahoma City led by as much as 17 points in the third quarter and nine points in the fourth quarter before Dallas rallied back to have the matchup go down the wire.

PJ Washington was fouled by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on a three-point attempt after Chet Holmgren gave the Thunder a 116-115 lead with a dunk assisted by his star guard with 20 seconds left.

Luka Dončić, who recorded his fourth triple-double in the playoffs with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, drove to the basket in the final seconds before passing to Washington in the corner. Washington's pump-fake drew Gilgeous-Alexander into the air, creating a lot of contact as the officials blew the whistle for the shooting foul.

Oklahoma City challenged the call, but replay confirmed Gilgeous-Alexander disrupting the shot by making contact with Washington's arm as he went up to shoot.

“Obviously if I had the moment back I wouldn’t have fouled him. I would have just let him miss the shot. You wish you would take the moment back. Just have to learn from it, and I will," - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

After making the first two free throws to put Dallas in front, Washington made the first two free throws to put Dallas ahead and intentionally missed the third, knowing the Thunder had no timeouts left. Holmgren passed to Jalen Williams, whose desperation shot heave from beyond half court was off the mark.

“If it was a clear-as-day foul, I obviously wouldn’t have challenged it and held the timeout. Even if you advance the ball with 2.5 seconds at a deficit, your chances are very low,” - Mark Daigneault

Gilgeous-Alexander had a spectacular performance despite the foul, putting up a playoff career-high 36 points, eight assists, three rebounds, and two blocks on 14-of-25 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 from downtown. Williams had 22 points to go with nine rebounds and eight assists, while Holmgren finished with 21 points.

What's Next For OKC

Exceeded Expectations With Top Seed In West

The Thunder should not be ashamed about losing in six games to a solid Mavericks team in the West Semis. In fact, they should feel proud of the tremendous progress they have made this season.

After missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year, jumping all the way up to the top spot in the conference with 57 wins, experiencing an MVP-caliber season from Gilgeous-Alexander, seeing Holmgren compete with San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama for Rookie of the Year, and winning a playoff series with their young core brings a lot of optimism to what the Thunder can accomplish in the near future.

They'll even return most, if not all, of their talent pending team options. The only player of significance who will be a free agent is Gordon Hayward, who was a mid-season acquisition during the trade deadline. It will be intriguing to see how Oklahoma City adds to their talented roster with plenty of cap space to utilize in the offseason.

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‘Proud and happy’: Ukrainians embrace Oleksandr Usyk’s boxing victory - The Guardian

From the capital, Kyiv, to the heavily attacked region of Kharkiv, news of Oleksandr Usyk’s win over Tyson Fury brought war-weary Ukrainians a rare and very welcome moment of victory and celebration.

Usyk, who became the first undisputed world heavyweight champion this century after his victory in Riyadh in the early hours of Sunday, said his triumph did not belong to him alone.

“It’s for my God, my supporters, my country, the Ukrainian soldiers, Ukrainian mothers and fathers, children,” he said.

Although Fury initially suggested the judges were “siding with someone whose country is at war”, the people of Ukraine would not let anything tarnish a win they viewed as a big symbolic achievement.

In a park near Kyiv’s velodrome, Usyk’s victory was a matter of joy to those enjoying the warm May sunshine.

“We are proud and happy – really happy to have such news,” said Karina Kivernyk, a communications specialist. “Every Ukrainian victory is significant, because it symbolises the strength of Ukraine against the Russian aggressor.”

Mary Kravets, a student who had watched the fight, agreed that the outcome of the showdown would prove a huge boost to the national psyche.

“It was amazing,” she said. “Ukraine won. And he shows everyone the strength and independence of the country.”

Even those who are more lukewarm about boxing acknowledged the psychological and propaganda advantages of the win.

“All I know about it is that Drake lost half a million dollars betting on the match,” said Ihor Sydorenko, a music producer and student with little time for the sport. Still, he added, “if it helps strengthen morale, it’s good, and brings hope that Ukraine will prevail”.

In Kharkiv, the north-eastern city that has come under intense bombardment in recent weeks, many people stayed up late to watch the fight. “It was really important to see Usyk winning this fight, and especially good to see a Crimean Ukrainian showing such a great example,” said Eugene Navolokin, 32.

“He was killing him; he destroyed Fury, like our soldiers on the frontlines doing their job,” said Bohdan Ivasenko, 29.

That sentiment was echoed by Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

“The Ukrainians hit hard! And in the end, all our opponents will be defeated,” he wrote on Telegram soon after the fight.

Zelenskiy added that Usyk’s success showed that “Ukrainian endurance and strength give birth to Ukrainian victory”.

The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, a former world heavyweight champion boxer, also noted that Usyk had “showed the world that Ukrainians are capable of defeating a strong opponent in a difficult fight”.

“This victory is a very important victory for Ukraine today,” said Klitschko, who held the WBO and WBC titles at different times.

His younger brother, Wladimir Klitschko – another former heavyweight world champion – was ringside in Saudi Arabia and echoed his sibling’s words.

“Can you imagine how much pressure this man had these past weeks and here in this ring? Losing was not an option,” he told Sky Sports.

“It doesn’t matter how big, how tall, how heavy, what his reach is and how mobile Tyson Fury was, Oleksandr Usyk showed he is the best fighter in modern history.

“I’m very proud of Oleksandr Usyk and I’m very proud to be Ukrainian.”

Usyk’s triumph may also help dampen some of the criticism he has drawn in the past for his attachment to the Ukrainian Orthodox church, a branch of the Orthodox communion loyal to the Moscow patriarchate.

In 2021, Usyk, who grew up in Crimea, was criticised for appearing in a documentary about the Pechersk Lavra, the ancient Kyiv monastery then inhabited by monks under the Moscow patriarchate’s authority. He also angered many Ukrainians in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s invasion by appearing to use the fraternal rhetoric favoured by Vladimir Putin when he appealed to Russia to abandon its offensive “if you consider us brotherly people”.

Additional reporting by Borys Shelahurov and Agence France-Presse

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Oleksandr Usyk breaks down and credits a special person for inspiring his victory over Tyson Fury - Marca.com

Oleksandr Usyk has reaffirmed his place at the top of the boxing world following his contentious split-decision victory over Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia. Despite being undersized relative to the towering Fury, Usyk's endurance and relentlessness helped him turn around this highly-anticipated bout -- and after 12 rounds, the Ukrainian had narrowly won the WBA and WBO heavyweight titles.

Usyk laid bare his emotions following the fight at Kingdom Arena in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. The 37-year-old was boxing with a heavy heart in light of personal tragedy, which he discussed with reporters after he had successfully fought off Fury.

Usyk remembers his father on a triumphant night

As Usyk ran his career record to 22-0 -- this being his eighth win via decision -- "the Cat" made it clear for whom and for what he was fighting on this historic night. In fact, Usyk's very first words after he became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era were dedicated to his late father.

"Can you hear me?" Usyk asked from the Kingdom Arena ring. "We have done this!"

Later, Usyk was able to elaborate on what his father has meant to his boxing career. While meeting with the media after the fight, a tearful Usyk told reporters that he felt his dad was sitting in their midst, with him to celebrate his victory.

"For me, it is hard when my father comes back to me because I remember all life," Usyk said, implying he continues to dream about the man who raised him. "I know he is here, maybe sitting out there."

Usyk was seen wiping tears away with his shirt while reminiscing about his father, who died shortly after the Cat won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. The raw honesty came at the end of a grueling bout that had been prefaced by months of preparation, which caused Usyk to miss his two sons' birthdays -- as well as his older daughter's birthday, and the birth of his youngest daughter. But through it all, the memory of Usyk's dad lingered, and it helped inspire him to the biggest win of his career.

"I miss my father, and I said to him 'You live there, and I live here, please don't come for me, I love you'," Usyk said.

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Oleksandr Usyk breaks down and credits a special person for inspiring his victory over Tyson Fury - Marca.com
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Oleksandr Usyk digs deep in thriller to down Tyson Fury and unite titles - The Guardian

Oleksandr Usyk is the first undisputed world heavyweight champion this century after he defeated Tyson Fury, in a compelling fight, on a split decision in the early hours of Sunday morning. Usyk added Fury’s WBC title to the IBF, WBA and WBO belts he already owned when he was deservedly given the verdict 115-112 by the first judge and 114-113 by the third official. The middle scorecard was called 114-113 in favour of Fury – but he had been almost knocked out in the ninth round when he staggered across the ring drunkenly. He was given a standing count of eight and saved by the bell.

An absorbing and highly technical, if brutal, contest had shifted in momentum when Usyk had a dominant round in the eighth. A right hook and left cross nailed Fury. And then, suddenly surging with new conviction, Usyk landed a shuddering left which rocked Fury. Blood streamed from Fury’s nose and he was marked up around the left eye.

Usyk poured on the pressure in the ninth and landed an incredible barrage of 14 unanswered blows. Fury reeled under the assault, swaying and stumbling helplessly, his eyes glazed. The referee could have stopped the fight but, with Fury being held up by the sagging ropes, he gave the stricken fighter time to try to stand upright before he began counting to eight. It seemed an exceedingly long count.

Fury, as always, showed great resilience in the next two rounds and he was competitive – but both the 10th and 11th were won by Usyk, who landed the harder blows. Before the last round Fury stretched his arm out to touch gloves with Usyk as he nodded in admiration.

A sharp combination from Usyk scored early but two straight right hands from Fury proved that he was still trying to win the fight. But Usyk unleashed a thrilling string of punches in a fitting conclusion to a gripping and often magnificent contest.

At the outset of the drama, waiting in their opposing corners both fighters looked to the heavens and crossed themselves just before the opening bell. It was as if they knew they were about to enter dark terrain and be pushed to the limit.

The height difference was obvious, with Fury being six inches taller, but Usyk was immediately effective as he jabbed to the body, again and again. Fury shook his head and wagged his tongue in apparent jest. But then Usyk nailed him with a jolting overhand left near the end of the round. Fury looked out at the crowd and pulled a face as he again played the joker.

Usyk began round two impressively with a slick combination. Fury found his rhythm and a right uppercut caught Usyk. The crowd roared as Fury then sank two hefty right hands to the body before settling back behind the jab. But Usyk remained the aggressor, setting a fast pace.

Usyk moved in and out, showing his slick skills, clipping Fury with glancing blows. But the hardest punch of the third round came from Fury as he hurt Usyk to the body. The Ukrainian backed Fury briefly into a neutral corner and cuffed him with a couple of sharp shots in the fourth. Fury responded and, with his herky-jerky movement, he boxed beautifully. There was a brief clash of heads but Fury kept working the body with powerful and draining blows in the fifth. These were hard punches that threatened to dismantle Usyk.

In the sixth a series of crunching right uppercuts shook Usyk to his core. Fury was in the groove, tagging the Ukrainian again and again, and at the bell he waggled his tongue at the crowd to suggest that he was now in control. He was wrong. Fury used the right uppercut to the body with punishing, repetitive force in the seventh but Usyk, resolute as ever, ended the round clipping the bigger man with crisp combinations. His brilliance was about to flourish – but great credit should also be paid to Fury, who lost for the first time in his 36th fight.

An Olympic champion in 2012, and the former undisputed cruiserweight world champion, Usyk had the severe disadvantage of being more than two stone lighter than the giant King of the Gypsies who stands 6ft 9in tall and weighed 18st 10lb. But the 37-year-old Usyk is a master technician with an iron will and clarity of purpose. Having fought 350 times as an amateur, he has never lost in 22 bouts as a professional and now has reached the summit of his remarkable career.

Lennox Lewis was the last undisputed world heavyweight champion when he defeated Evander Holyfield to win all the belts in Las Vegas in 1999. Almost 25 years later both those great old champions were at ringside in Riyadh to watch their successors. Fury was brave and admirable but the imperious Usyk can now join the pantheon of heavyweight kings.

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Pacers win at home, extend series vs Knicks - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — The Indiana Pacers produced another big win on their home court Friday, routing the New York Knicks 116-103 to force a decisive Game 7 in their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Pascal Siakam scored 25 points to lead Indiana’s scoring. Tyrese Haliburton added 15 with nine assists and Myles Turner had 17 points as six Pacers players scored in double figures.

On the brink of elimination after an embarrassing Game 5 defeat in New York, the Pacers played with desperate aggression, outscoring the Knicks 62-38 in the paint and winning the rebounding battle.

They hustled after loose balls, blocked eight shots and handed out 35 assists to keep their offense firing, and kept Knicks talisman Jalen Brunson in check for much of the night as they improved to 6-0 at home in this postseason.

They’ll have to follow-up on the road, however, if they want to book a clash with the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals, with the Knicks hosting Game 7 on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

“Now it’s a one game series, and it’s for all the marbles,” Haliburton said. “Where better to have a Game 7 than the Garden? No team’s won a game on the road in this series, so we’ve got to be ready to go from start to finish in 48 minutes.”

The Pacers broke open a close game with a 17-2 scoring run that pushed their lead to 13 points late in the second quarter.

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Timberwolves keys in Game 7 vs. Nuggets - Sports Illustrated

The Minnesota Timberwolves will play in their first Game 7 in 20 years to the day, Sunday vs. the Nuggets. What do they need to do to come away with a win in Denver?

It's fair to assume that Nikola Jokic will play like Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards will play like Anthony Edwards, so it's often the role players that can change the high-pressure situations in a Game 7.

Karl-Anthony Towns

Towns began the postseason playing some of the best basketball of his career against the Suns and early in the series vs. the Nuggets. Over the last four games, he has struggled to find the same efficiency, averaging 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds on 44.4% shooting from the field.

The Wolves offense becomes much more dynamic and tough to guard when he is at his best. They have plenty of options like Mike Conley Jr. and Jaden McDaniels, but Towns is undoubtedly the second-best shot creator on the team. A big game from KAT could go a long way in advancing to the West Conference Finals.

Who will be the Game 7 legend?

In the history of NBA Game Sevens there always seems to be an unlikely hero that emerges. 20 years ago it was reserve Eddie Griffin who had 18 points and seven rebounds, as the Timberwolves knocked off the Kings. Players like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Naz Reid, McDaniels and Conley have performed like some of the best role players in the league, but a game like this is their time to prove it on the biggest stage.

All four players had impressive Game 6 showings, all with at least nine points. Getting that level of production takes the pressure off players like Towns and Anthony Edwards. Sometimes you need a role player to play like a star and if Minnesota gets that its chances of advancing increase dramatically.

Experience

You could make an argument that Sunday afternoon will be the biggest career basketball game of nearly every player on Minnesota's roster. Denver is obviously defending its thrown from last season, so they have a clear experience edge.

This is something the Timberwolves have zero option to change or improve, but there is no doubt that it's a disadvantage. Nearly all of the Nuggets' team knows what to expect heading into the game. The Wolves will need to play like they've been there before. Emotions will be flowing and it will be tense and sometimes all you can do is make smart basketball decisions and not beat yourselves.

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Preview: Mavericks looking to bounce top-seeded Thunder - NBA.com

Luka Doncic has averaged 27.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 9.0 assists during the Mavs’ playoff run.

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Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks are trying to stay the course and not get overly wrapped up in the consequences of Saturday’s contest against the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Mavericks hold a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference second-round series and a victory would propel fifth-seeded Dallas into the conference finals for the second time in the past three seasons.

But the Mavericks didn’t protect home floor in Game 4 of the series, prompting a cautious view heading into Saturday.

“We’ve got one more to win out of two games,” Doncic told reporters. “That’s it. We’re up 3-2, but that’s still nothing. We’ve got to finish it and go with the same mentality at home.”

Dallas regained the series lead with a 104-92 road victory over the Thunder in Game 5.

That victory on Wednesday put top-seeded Oklahoma City in danger of elimination.

“Our mood won’t change, our mentality won’t change,” Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s one game at a time. We wanted to win (Game 5) as badly as we’re going to want to win the next game.”

Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic, who finished second and third, respectively, in NBA MVP voting, have stood out in the series.

Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.4 points with four straight 30-point outings. His low outing is 29 and his high is 34.

With Dallas on the verge of advancing to the West final, the matchup of Luguentz Dort vs. Luka Doncic becomes even more crucial.

Doncic is averaging 23.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 8.4 assists in the series. He had 31 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in Game 5 for his second straight triple-double.

But Doncic also had poor-shooting efforts in Game 1 (6-for-19) and Game 4 (6-for-20). The Mavericks lost both contests.

But in Game 5, he made five 3-pointers for the second time in the series as Dallas moved back ahead.

“Our mentality, we know the last game we played against them at home, we let it go,” Doncic said. “It was our mistakes and they hit shots. In the playoffs, it’s the first to four, you got to win before they do. So you got to go game by game.

“The whole team stepped up. I couldn’t do it without my teammates. Everybody that came on the floor gave 100 percent energy. We play as a team. We win as a team. We lose as a team. I’ve been having a lot of fun with this team.”

The Thunder will be looking to get Gilgeous-Alexander some help on Saturday night.

Nobody else on Oklahoma City scored more than Chet Holmgren’s 13 points in Game 5 and the Thunder were a shaky 10-for-40 from 3-point range.

“There is a lot that we can take away from this past game that was really good,” said Thunder guard Jalen Williams, who scored a series-low 12 points. “I think we got a lot of stuff that we wanted to accomplish and just kind of lost the game. We know it’s a tough task going over there and winning, but now it’s kind of like that first to best out of three series and that’s how we’re treating it.”

Oklahoma City even tried a lineup change in Game 5 by moving third-year point guard Josh Giddey to the bench for the first time in his career. Isaiah Joe was elevated to the starting lineup but had just six points on 2-of-9 shooting.

Williams said the Thunder are not dismayed to be facing elimination.

“We can be as good as we want to be as long as we hold each other accountable, continue to play the right way and keep the outside noise on the outside,” Williams said.

Mavericks star Kyrie Irving said his club needs to bring everything in its arsenal.

“This is one of the hardest series I’ve ever played, so just the focus level has to be at a level that reflects that,” Irving said. “We have what it takes to win. But also, we understand we’re not going to get there without guys feeling like their best selves.”

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