Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder
9:00 PM ET, May 23, 2011
Oklahoma City Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
The Oklahoma City Thunder are trying to use the same formula as the Dallas Mavericks to even up the Western Conference finals: Get angry and get a win.
After claiming home-court advantage with a win in Dallas in Game 2, the Thunder got flattened in the first quarter of Game 3 and gave it right back. They fell into a humbling 23-point hole in the first 14 minutes on their home floor, and never could climb their way out of it.
"You lose a home game, you have to be angry," All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook said Sunday. "You've got to take care of home court."
Dallas used exactly that approach after losing at the American Airlines Center in Game 2 and yielding home-court advantage. The Mavericks intensified their defense, building a 35-12 lead in the first 2 minutes of the second quarter, then turning away a late rally by Oklahoma City for a 93-87 win.
The Mavs lead 2-1 heading into Game 4 Monday night in Oklahoma City.
"If you think about it, this is a must-win at the end of the day," Thunder guard Daequan Cook said. "If we win tomorrow, it's a three-game series. Two of the three games are in Dallas, so you want to take advantage of this opportunity to win at home tomorrow night and hopefully go to Dallas and win one, too."
After claiming home-court advantage with a win in Dallas in Game 2, the Thunder got flattened in the first quarter of Game 3 and gave it right back. They fell into a humbling 23-point hole in the first 14 minutes on their home floor, and never could climb their way out of it.
"You lose a home game, you have to be angry," All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook said Sunday. "You've got to take care of home court."
Dallas used exactly that approach after losing at the American Airlines Center in Game 2 and yielding home-court advantage. The Mavericks intensified their defense, building a 35-12 lead in the first 2 minutes of the second quarter, then turning away a late rally by Oklahoma City for a 93-87 win.
The Mavs lead 2-1 heading into Game 4 Monday night in Oklahoma City.
"If you think about it, this is a must-win at the end of the day," Thunder guard Daequan Cook said. "If we win tomorrow, it's a three-game series. Two of the three games are in Dallas, so you want to take advantage of this opportunity to win at home tomorrow night and hopefully go to Dallas and win one, too."
Watch Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder Live Online Stream Free May 23, 2011 Game 4
