Josh Green and Dante Exum added a real Aussie flavour as the Dallas Mavericks stole Oklahoma's thunder 119-110 to even their NBA Western Conference semi-final at one win apiece.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Green had 11 points, one rebound and one assist in his 16 minutes of court time for the travelling Mavericks on Thursday (Friday AEST).
Exum was much quieter, managing one rebound and one assist from his six minutes on court.
Luka Doncic led the way for Dallas, bouncing back after the first match of the series to make 29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
The Thunder held Doncic to 19 points on 6-for-19 shooting in Game 1. He made 11 of 21 field goals in Game 2.
P J Washington had 29 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks, after averaging just 12.9 points in the regular season.
Kyrie Irving added nine points and 11 assists for the fifth-seeded Mavericks, who host Game 3 on Saturday.
Green and Exum earned Aussie bragging rights over compatriot Josh Giddey, who had a quiet night by his lofty standards for the home side.
Giddey had eight points and two rebounds during his 11 minutes of court time for the Thunder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 33 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, and Jalen Williams added 20 points for Oklahoma.
It was the Thunder's first loss in the post-season, as they allowed more than 100 points for the first time in their six playoff games.
In Boston, Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points and Evan Mobley had 21 points and 10 rebounds as Cleveland beat the top-seeded Celtics 118-94 to tie their Eastern Conference semi series 1-1.
Two nights after losing by 25 points, with Mitchell scoring 33 but getting little help, the Cavaliers seized the lead in the third quarter on Thursday and answered with a blowout of their own.
Mitchell scored 16 points in the third, hit three straight baskets early in the fourth, including a 28-footer, and banked a three-pointer that left him shrugging his shoulders as he back-pedalled into defence.
Jayson Tatum scored 25 for Boston, and Jaylen Brown added 19 points.
However, Derrick White, whose 25 points in Game 1 helped the Celtics coast to a 120-95 win, managed just 10 points, missing seven of his eight three-point tries.
The series moves to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday, with a return trip to Boston for Game 5 on Wednesday.
Australian Associated Press
