Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are moving on. After missing the playoffs in 2014, the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks 118-104 in Game 5 to advance to the second round, taking the series 4-1.
Mavericks vs. Thunder 2016 results: Russell Westbrook goes off to lead Oklahoma City to 4-1 series win
Westbrook had a near triple-double as the Thunder raced to a 118-104 win in Game 5.
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Westbrook had 36 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists and Durant added 33 points as the Thunder earned the right to take on the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals.
The Thunder offense came out firing in Game 5 against the Mavericks, sprinting to a 68-61 lead at the half. The Mavericks, to their credit, never let the game completely get away from them through three quarters. They trailed by as many as 14 in the third, but were down by only 10 heading into the fourth.
The Mavericks crept to within three with Westbrook sitting on the bench in the early stages of the fourth. Westbrook returned and the Thunder settled down, however, avoiding yet another fourth-quarter meltdown as they ended the game on an 11-1 run to hang on for a 14-point win.
Here are three things we learned:
Don’t doubt Russell Westbrook
Before the game, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said Westbrook wasn’t a superstar. Not exactly what you should say about someone who can end your season with a big game -- which is what happened. Westbrook put up monster numbers in the closeout game and took over down the stretch. The Thunder have struggled to finish games all season, but on Monday they let Westbrook run the show -- and it worked. Despite letting the Mavericks stick around longer than they should have, Westbrook made jumper after jumper -- he had 10 points in the fourth -- to keep the Thunder from blowing yet another close game. He made sure the Thunder weren’t going back to Dallas for Game 6. He was dangerous in so many different ways like he always is.
Dirk Nowitzki did his best, but it wasn't quite good enough
Nowitzki had a decent series, never scoring fewer than 16 points, but his Mavericks never really stood a chance. He had 24 points in Monday’s loss, as the Mavericks faltered in yet another playoff series. They haven’t won one since winning the title in 2011. The Mavericks defied doubters all season -- they weren’t even supposed to make the playoffs -- but in the end, injuries and a lack of personnel left them little chance against a superior Thunder team.
Spurs-Thunder is going to be fun
Sure, the Mavericks exposed the Thunder's already-known weakness -- their inability to close out games -- in Game 2, but the Thunder turned things around to dismantle an inferior team in the other four games. The Spurs, too, are coming off a series against an over-matched opponent. Now, these two teams are fresh with a trip to the Western Conference Finals on the line. With Stephen Curry's injury casting a pall of doubt over the Golden State Warriors, both of these teams have to be thinking they should represent the West. Westbrook and Durant taking on the Spurs with this much on the line? We can't wait.
See More:
