Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – In a thrilling showdown between two formidable duos, the Oklahoma City Thunder emerged victorious on Tuesday night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren powered the Thunder to a resounding 117-95 win over Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, and the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series.

The game started off close, with the score tied at 23 after the first quarter. However, the Thunder took control and secured a nine-point lead at halftime. Although the Mavericks made a push in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to just one point, the Thunder responded with a strong run to extend their lead back to double digits. The Mavericks failed to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, allowing the Thunder to clinch a convincing Game 1 victory.

Leading the charge for the Thunder, Gilgeous-Alexander delivered an impressive performance with 29 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, two blocks, and a steal. Holmgren also made a significant impact on both ends of the court, contributing 19 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.

Despite a slow start, Irving picked up the pace in the third quarter, scoring nine points and hitting a key 3-pointer. Nevertheless, the Thunder responded with a crucial 14-4 run of their own to regain control of the game. They maintained their dominance in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 28-16 to seal the victory.

The Thunder’s youth and inexperience were questioned entering the playoffs, but they have defied expectations so far. Despite being the youngest team in the postseason, they swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round and continued their strong performance against the more seasoned Mavericks.

In Game 1, the Thunder’s defense held the Mavericks to just 39.3% shooting from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc. Dončić, hampered by a knee injury, struggled with his shooting, finishing with 19 points on 6-of-19 shooting. Irving put up 20 points but was unable to lead the Mavericks to victory.

On the offensive end, the Thunder shot 44.9% from the field and an impressive 45.7% from 3-point range. Multiple players stepped up, including Jalen Williams and Aaron Wiggins, who made significant contributions from beyond the arc.

The series will stay in Oklahoma City for Game 2 on Thursday night, where both teams will look to make adjustments and secure a crucial win to take the series lead.