Full coverage: Luka Doncic, Mavericks win Game 3, take 2-1 series lead over Thunder (2024)

The Dallas Mavericks have seized control of their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

P.J. Washington followed up his offensive outburst from Game 2 with 27 points in Game 3 to lead the Mavericks to a 105-101 win in Game 3 on Saturday at American Airlines Center and a 2-1 series lead. Dallas will have a shot to take a commanding 3-1 series lead in Game 4 on Monday.

Find game stories and more from our reporters on the scene in Oklahoma City below.

Game stories

— Five thoughts: Mavericks take control of series vs. Thunder with convincing Game 3 win

— Which celebrities sat courtside for Mavs-Thunder Game 3 at AAC in Dallas?

Game updates

— Final: Mavericks 105, Thunder 101

Dallas held off Oklahoma City to take a 2-1 lead in the series. P.J. Washington led the Mavericks with 27 points. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving each chipped in with 22 points of their own.

— Fourth quarter (3:27): The Thunder resorted to the hack-a-Lively strategy, intentionally fouling the Mavericks center to send him to the free-throw line. Lively made both of his attempts late in the quarter to give Dallas a 98-92 lead. Lively is 6-10 from the line for the game.

—Fourth quarter (6:13): The Mavericks lead the Thunder 94-89. Kyrie Irving has come to life in the fourth quarter, scoring six points in the period so far.

—End of third quarter: Tim Hardaway Jr. hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to give the Mavericks an 82-78 lead going into the fourth quarter.

— Third quarter (3:06): The Thunder called a timeout with the Mavericks leading 74-70 as Jalen Williams went down with an apparent injury. Williams walked back to the locker room. Kyrie Irving made a 3-pointer with Williams lying next to him on the ground.

— Third quarter (4:26): The Mavericks extended their run to 16-0, capped off by another 3-pointer from P.J. Washington.

— Third quarter (6:36): After the Thunder took a 10-point lead, the Mavericks answered with an 8-0 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer and a fast-break dunk from P.J. Washington. The Mavericks trail the Thunder 65-63.

— Third quarter (9:39): After Dallas took a 55-54 lead, the Thunder went on a 7-0 run to take a 61-55 lead. Josh Giddey scored five of the seven points in the run. For Dallas, Gafford returne from a shoulder injury and scored a quick four points off a pair of dunks.

— End of second quarter: Luka Doncic hit a 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds remaining to give the Mavericks a brief lead. Isaiah Joe responded with a 3-pointer of his own right before the buzzer to give the Thunder a 52-51 lead heading into halftime. P.J. Washington had 19 points for Dallas in the first half and Doncic added 14. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for the Thunder with 17 points.

— Second quarter (8:40): The Thunder started the second quarter on an 11-5 run. Dereck Lively II’s struggles continued in the series, as he missed an open dunk that led to a Jalen Williams 3-pointer to put the Thunder in front 34-31.

— End of first quarter: The Mavericks finished the first quarter with a 26-23 lead. P.J. Washington is leading all scorers with 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting. For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit three of his first four shots for nine points.

— First quarter (8:45): P.J. Washington picked up where he left off to start Game 3. Washington dunked over Chet Holmgren to score the first points of the game and also hit a floater in the paint as Dallas jumped out to an 11-5 lead.

— Game 3 is underway at American Airlines Center

Pregame updates

Starting lineups

Mavericks: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr., P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford

Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren

Doncic available for Game 3

After initially being listed as questionable, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd told reporters Doncic is “available to go” in Game 3. He’s dealing with a right knee sprain and left ankle soreness. Maxi Kleber (right shoulder AC separation) and Olivier Maxence-Prosper (left ankle sprain) have been ruled out.

Doncic took to the court for his normal pregame warmup routine.

Pregame reading

— Tim Hardaway, Josh Green reminded us in Game 2 that role players can be playoff-changers

— Fresh off award snub, Luka Doncic played like an MVP in Mavericks’ Game 2 win over Thunder

— Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving on heckling Thunder fans: ‘Little do they know, that motivates us’

— Five thoughts: Confident Mavericks control physical Game 2 to even series with Thunder

— Mavericks’ Luka Doncic says courtside Thunder fan was ‘going at my family’

Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.