NBA Playoffs: Thunder vs. Mavericks Game 5 recap, full highlights

The Thunder closed out the Mavericks with a win in Game 5 to advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs

Perhaps the most impressive thing that we’ve seen from any team to this point in the 2016 NBA Playoffs was the way that the Oklahoma City Thunder responded to losing Game 2 in their Western Conference first round series with the Dallas Mavericks. Despite the series being tied and the Thunder going on the road for Games 3 and 4, they responded by picking up two emphatic wins and only needing another home win in Game 5 to move to the second round.

Without question, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks weren’t ready to go home as they went back on the road to Oklahoma City on Monday night. In fact, Dirk got big help in Game 5 from the likes of role players like Dwight Powell and Justin Anderson, both of whom had by far their best games of this series with their playoff lives on the line.

Unfortunately, Dirk and the Mavericks didn’t have near the firepower to withstand what Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook had in store for them. The superhuman do for the Thunder came out with no regard for anyone in their path and absolutely eviscerated Dallas from start to finish. Though the Mavs put up an fight, the talent discrepancy was too much in Game 5. Things finished up chippy as they were for most of the series between these two teams, but it was the Thunder winning on Monday to win the series and move on to the second round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs.

Three Stars

Russell Westbrook, Thunder – 36 points, nine assists, 12 rebounds, one steal

Kevin Durant, Thunder – 33 points, seven rebounds, two assists

Dirk Nowitzki, Mavricks – 24 points, three rebounds, one block

Highlights

"Adams with the SLAM!"

Next Game

The Mavericks season and NBA Playoffs run is over. The Thunder now move on to a date with the San Antonio Spurs that will begin likely in the next week.

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