Timberwolves aim for victory against the Lakers with Anthony Edwards leading the charge

In Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put forth an outstanding performance, scoring 39 points to guide the Oklahoma City Thunder in their 118-104 victory against the Dallas Mavericks on December 10, 2024. This win marked the Thunder's progression to the semifinals of the NBA Cup, setting them up for a showdown against the winner of the Golden State Warriors versus Houston Rockets matchup. The Thunder significantly outperformed the Mavericks, turning the tide in the second half after leading by just three points at halftime. Gilgeous-Alexander's scoring surge in the third quarter, where he scored 16 points on an impressive 7-for-8 shooting, helped extend the Thunder's lead from a close 57-54 at halftime to a commanding 90-73 by the start of the fourth quarter. This performance came after a tough playoff series the previous season, where the Mavericks emerged victorious, making the win particularly sweet for the Thunder. The Mavericks struggled to keep up, committing 19 turnovers that resulted in 36 points for the Thunder. Dallas's Luka Doncic was held to only 16 points, a stark contrast to his typical high-scoring games, largely due to the Thunder’s strong perimeter defense led by Luguentz Dort. While the Mavericks had contributions from Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, and Naji Marshall, it was not enough to offset Oklahoma City's dominance. Following this defeat, the Mavericks, who had faced challenges in recent matchups, are set to host the Los Angeles Clippers on December 19, while the Thunder prepare for their semifinal game in Las Vegas. This performance highlights both the Thunder's resurgence in the NBA Cup after last season's setback and raises questions about the Mavericks' consistency moving forward.