The Dallas Mavericks are moving on to the Western Conference Finals after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-116 in Game 6 on Saturday.
The Mavericks used a 29-point night from Luka Dončić and a clutch performance from Kyrie Irving to advance. Irving had a slow start to the game but had a big second half to finish with 22 points.
While Dončić and Irving led the way, it was P.J. Washington who played the hero, hitting a pair of go-ahead free throws with just over two seconds to play. Washington had just nine points, but his two at the end were the most important of the night.
After the win, fans praised Dallas for taking care of business in the elimination game:
StatMuse @statmuseLuka in the WCF:<br><br>32.0 PPG<br>9.2 RPG<br>6.0 APG<br><br>He's back. <a href="">
Jeff Goodman @GoodmanHoopsIs there a bigger whiner in all of pro sports right now than Luka? <br><br>Serious question.
Kevin O'Connor @KevinOConnorNBAPJ WASHINGTON!! Scoreless into the 4th and still clutch
Bleacher Report @BleacherReportMAVS ELIMINATE THUNDER AND ADVANCE TO THE CONF. FINALS 🔥📱 <a href="">
MFFL @Mavs_FFLMAVS ADVANCE!!! LET'S GOOO <a href="">
MavsMuse @MavsMuseDereck Lively II tonight<br><br>12 PTS<br>15 REB (playoff career high)<br>3 AST (ties playoff career high)<br>5/6 FG<br>+ 26 (team high)<br><br>— WCF AS A ROOKIE 🔥🔥🔥 <a href="">
StatMuse @statmuseMavs last three seasons:<br><br>— Western Conference Finals<br>— Missed the Playoffs<br>— Western Conference Finals <br><br>The only team to make multiple WCF over the last three seasons. <a href="">
StatMuse @statmuseKyrie tonight:<br><br>First half — Second half —<br>4 PTS 18 PTS<br>0 AST 3 AST<br><br>His first Conference Finals since 2017. <a href="">
Underdog NBA @Underdog__NBAKyrie Irving improves to a perfect 14-0 in closeout games. The best record in NBA history.
MFFL NATION @NationMfflPJ WASHINGTON STOOD ON BIDNESS <a href="">
Trill Withers @TylerIAmPJ washington sends his team to the conference finals. We here
Now Dallas awaits the winner of the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, who face off in a Game 7 on Sunday. The Mavericks are back in the conference finals just a year after missing the postseason entirely, and they seem to have all the makings of a championship team.
The Thunder have a long offseason ahead of them, but it's clear the young Oklahoma City team is going to be a contender for years to come. On Saturday, the Thunder just didn't have enough to get past Dončić and Irving.