After defeating the Thunder, the Mavericks will now face either Denver or Minnesota in the Western Conference finals.
Luka Doncic scored a triple-double and PJ Washington hit the decisive free throws as the Dallas Mavericks erased a 17-point deficit to beat Oklahoma City 117-116 and reach the NBA Western Conference finals.
The Mavericks beat the Thunder 4-2 on Saturday in the best-of-seven conference semifinal series to reach the conference finals for the second time in three years.
They will face either the defending champion Denver Nuggets or the Minnesota Timberwolves, who faced a decisive Game 7 in their series on Sunday.
“Being down 17 in a closeout game is not a position you want to be in,” Dallas star Kyrie Irving said. “We had to respond like we have all season, just playing tough basketball on the defensive end, getting out in transition and just trusting that our pace would get us back in the game.
“It definitely feels good to finish the series.”
Doncic scored 29 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Irving and Derrick Jones Jr scored 22 points each and Dereck Lively added 12 off the bench for the Mavs.
Washington scored all nine of its points in the fourth quarter, including two free throws with 2.5 seconds left to lift the Mavs to victory.
“I think he was just biding his time,” Irving said.
It came after a controversial call in the final seconds with the Mavs trailing 116-115. Doncic entered the lane and then passed Washington in the corner. But Washington was fouled on his three-point attempt by Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Oklahoma City challenged the decision, but it stood. Washington made the first two free throws before intentionally missing the third, the Thunder grabbed the rebound but couldn't make a shot from beyond half court.
“If I had gotten the momentum back, I wouldn't have fouled him, let him make or miss the shot,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “[In] Basketball: sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. You make mistakes.”
Gilgeous-Alexander, a finalist like Doncic for the Most Valuable Player award won by Denver's Nikola Jokic, scored 36 points to lead the Thunder, who led by 16 at halftime and increased the lead to 17 early in the third before before the Mavericks broke out. again in front of a frenzied home crowd.
A 3-pointer by Washington tied the score at 105-105 with 4:11 left and they changed the lead three times from there, Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren threw down a dunk to put Oklahoma City up 116-115 with 20.4 seconds left .
Facing elimination, the Thunder came out firing and led by seven after one quarter.
Doncic gave the Mavs their first lead of the game with less than five minutes left in the second quarter.
The Thunder responded with vengeance as back-to-back dunks by Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams restored their lead. Oklahoma City finished the second quarter on a 24-6 run to lead 64-48 at halftime.
With Doncic and Irving leading the way, the Mavs rallied in the third, outscoring the Thunder 35-26 in the period.
“The whole team is amazing,” Doncic said. “Incredible return, incredible effort. This team is special.”
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised his young team. Oklahoma City's starting five have an average age of 23, but they tied the Nuggets for the best record in the West and swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the playoffs.
“I've said all year that this has been a total pleasure,” he said. “It's really sad that this is ending.”
