PJ Washington scored two late free throws as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-116 in a thrilling game to reach the NBA Western Conference Finals.
The Mavericks turned a 75-58 third-quarter deficit into a 115-110 lead with just over a minute left before the Thunder scored six unanswered points.
Washington was fouled by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander while attempting a three-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining.
He made the first two free throws before intentionally missing the third.
Although the Thunder got the rebound back, Jalen Williams’ long-range shot went wide of the target as the Mavericks won the best-of-seven series 4-2.
They will face the defending NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets or the Minnesota Timberwolves, who will meet in the seventh game on Sunday in the conference finals.
The winners of this seven-game series will reach the NBA Finals starting June 6.
Luka Doncic scored 29 points and had 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Mavericks, who reached the conference finals twice in three years.
“It definitely feels good to finish the series,” Dallas’ Kyrie Irving said.
“Being down by 17 points in a close game is not a position you want to be in.
“We had to respond the same way we had all season, just playing hard basketball on defense, getting out in transition and trusting that our rhythm would get us back into the game.”
Gilgeous-Alexand, who scored 36 points for the Thunder, said: “If I had the momentum back, I wouldn’t have missed it; let him make or miss the shot.
“Basketball – you win some, you lose some. You make mistakes.”
