It was a two-man game for much of the night in Dallas as Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant went toe-to-toe in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. While Durant was excellent, Nowitzki was other-worldly and it paid-off for the Mavericks as they pulled away en route to a 121-112 win.
Nowitzki scored a game-high 48 points on just 15 shots in what was one of the more efficient performances you’ll ever see. He was perfect from the charity stripe, setting a new NBA playoff record by connected on all 24 of his free throw attempts.
JJ Barea and Jason Terry were each outstanding off the bench and provided a much-needed lift while complimenting Nowitzki. Terry added 24 points to the mix and Barea scored 24 points, including 12-straight at one point, almost exclusively on pick-and-rolls. Jason Kidd was also in double-figures with 11 points.
Durant had a team-high 40 points for the Thunder, but Nowitzki’s outstanding third quarter put Oklahoma City in far too deep a hole. Russell Westbrook added 20 points, but connected on just three of 15 shots from the floor while doing his damage at the free throw line.
Be sure to check out our Mavericks vs. Thunder hub for full series coverage. For more on the Mavericks, visit Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas. For more on the Thunder, visit Welcome To Loud City.
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