OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Two young MVP finalists will square off when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and No. 1 seed Oklahoma City face Luka Doncic and No. 5 seed Dallas in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. The series matching the high-scoring 25-year-olds begins Tuesday. Doncic led the league in scoring this season at 33.9 points per game. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound guard averaged 29.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 9.5 assists in six first-round games against the Los Angeles Clippers. He also has way more playoff experience than Gilgeous-Alexander, having led the Mavs to the Western Conference finals two years ago. The Thunder are coming off their first playoff series win since 2016. “He is who he is for a reason,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “No one guy slows him down.” Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort, one of the league’s best defensive wing players, will guard Doncic most of the time. While Doncic often overpowers opponents, Dort is solid at 6-4 and 220 pounds. |
DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Labour runs out of ammo on defenceFrancisco Lindor slugs a pair of 2Biden promises quick provision of additional arms to Ukraine in call with ZelenskyDwayne 'The Rock' Johnson gets emotional during 'lifeUN report says 282 million people faced acute hunger in 2023, with the worst famine in GazaWhat to expect in Pennsylvania's presidential and state primariesCeltics were beaten at their own game at 3Princess Charlotte's adorable talent that makes her mother Kate Middleton 'very happy'Columbia University classes go remote as U.S. campuses divided over IsraelAaron Judge homers 1 pitch after Joe Boyle is called for a balk as Yanks top A's 7