P.J. Washington broke out with a 19-point performance, while Kyrie Irving took over in the second half to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 120-108 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.
* P.J. Washington, the third-year forward acquired by the Mavericks at the trade deadline, had his best game of the playoffs in Game 3.
* Washington scored 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-5 from three-point range.
* He also grabbed 7 rebounds and dished out 3 assists.
* Kyrie Irving struggled in the first half with just 5 points on 2-of-8 shooting.
* However, he exploded in the second half, scoring 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting.
* Irving was particularly effective in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points and leading the Mavericks' comeback.
* The Thunder struggled to score throughout Game 3, shooting just 42.6% from the field and 27.6% from three-point range.
* Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder's leading scorer, was held to 20 points on 7-of-20 shooting.
* The Thunder also had 16 turnovers, which proved costly.
* Luka Dončić had another efficient performance, scoring 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting.
* He also grabbed 9 rebounds and dished out 6 assists.
* Dončić was particularly effective in the pick-and-roll, creating easy scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
* Reggie Jackson continued to play a key role for the Mavericks, scoring 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting.
* He also had 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
* Jackson's leadership and experience have been invaluable for the Mavericks in the playoffs.
* The Thunder's bench was outplayed by the Mavericks' bench in Game 3.
* Oklahoma City's bench scored just 11 points, while Dallas' bench scored 37.
* The Mavericks' bench was more active and aggressive, providing a spark off the court.
* The Mavericks' defense improved significantly in the second half of Game 3.
* They held the Thunder to just 35.5% shooting in the second half.
* The Mavericks were also more physical and active on the defensive end, forcing the Thunder into turnovers.
* The Mavericks now lead the series 2-1 and have home-court advantage.
* Game 4 is scheduled for Monday night in Dallas.
* The Thunder will need to find a way to improve their offense and contain Kyrie Irving if they want to win Game 4.
