Mavs Beat Thunder
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Every game means something at this time of the year in the Western Conference. With 10 teams vying for a spot in the playoffs or looking to improve its postseason position, each outing can affect a team’s season.
Forward Chandler Parsons knew that when Dallas took the court to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are hot on their tails for seventh place in the conference. Parsons scored 13 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Mavs to a 135-131 victory over the Thunder on Wednesday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
“Just trying to make some big plays down the stretch for our team,” Parsons said. “We all know how important this game was. We needed this win in a bad way.”
The Mavs (46-29) pushed their lead over the Thunder (42-33) to four games. Despite the loss, Oklahoma City keeps its hold on eighth place, but the players know they let an opportunity get away.
“It was definitely a real tough loss,” Thunder center Enes Kanter said. “We are playing for something. We are trying to get a playoff spot. It hurt us. But we just can’t sit here and worry about it.”
Guard Monts Ellis paced Dallas with 26 points. Forward Dirk Nowitzki and
center Amar’e Stoudemire each posted 18 points.
Reserve Thunder guard Anthony Morrow led all scorers with 32 points and hit six of nine 3-point attempts. Guard Russell Westbrook posted 31 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds for his 10th triple-double of the season. Kanter scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds.
Nowitzki turned the ball over with 41 seconds left and Dallas ahead by three. Westbrook hurried up court and was fouled driving to the basket. The ensuing free throws cut the margin to one point.
The Mavericks put the ball into the hands of Parsons, who popped in a fade-away jumper to push the advantage to 134-131.
Trying to get a foul call, Westbrook took an off-balance 3-pointer at the top of the key. His shot was off, but he got his own rebound and raced to the corner, where he put up another tough 3-pointer. It was short, and the Mavs got the rebound. Ellis sealed the win by making one of two free throws.
“This was a huge win,” Dallas center Tyson Chandler said. “Almost a must-win with them in the eight seed and sitting right behind us. It was one that we definitely needed to get.”
Dallas shot 61.5 percent from the field and turned the ball over only six times. Oklahoma City hit 48.4 percent of its shots and gave the ball away 11 times.
“Having only six turnovers is very impressive,” Parsons said. “That’s been one of our big problems all year long. We were definitely more solid tonight. Especially against a team like OKC.”
Kanter punished Dallas to start the contest. While he did most of his work in the paint, he found time to step back and drain his first 3-pointer of the season. His 15 points in the first quarter is the best by any Thunder player not named Westbrook or forward Kevin Durant since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City.
Despite the Mavericks having no answer for Kanter, they held a three-point lead after the first quarter. Seven players had at least two points in the opening 12 minutes.
The Mavs kept Kanter and Westbrook at bay in the second period. Yet, that opened the door for the now hot-shooting Morrow. He poured in 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the quarter.
Yet, once again, it was Dallas who ended the half on top. Oklahoma City defense allowed the Mavs to get any type of shot they wanted as they trailed 66-63.
“I think they had 72 points in the paint,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “That’s ridiculous.”
