The OKC Thunder were able to exact revenge against the Dallas Mavericks for both their 2024 playoff series and November 20 loss, respectively, as they beat them in the Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals by a final score of 118-104.
Most will be quick to point out that this game was missing a notable player for Dallas in PJ Washington, who seems to play better than usual against the Bricktown boys, though, as a trade-off, the Thunder also found themselves without several key players of their own.
That said, as have been the case virtually all season, their bevy of absences didn't seem to have much of a negative impact on their on-court play, as Oklahoma City seemed to stifle Dallas on both ends of the floor all night long.
As far as who made their presence felt during this NBA Cup Semifinal-clinching contest, there were a few names, in particular, who deserve to be singled out.
Studs and duds from Thunder NBA Cup victory over Mavericks.
Stud: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved that he is the better player between him and Luka Doncic, as he posted an absurd stat line of 39 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 5-for-9 shooting from behind the arc en route to OKC's commanding victory.
Right from the jump, SGA seemed to be on a mission, as he would put up 16 of the team's initial 32 first-quarter points.
On top of this, his defensive efforts were truly phenomenal, as he finished the contest with 3 steals and a block.
It's safe to say that, as of this writing, Shai should be the MVP favorite after this performance.
Stud: Isaiah Hartenstein
Isaiah Hartenstein was the exact player the Thunder were missing in their first matchup against Dallas.
Looking to make up for their lackluster frontcourt showing in their previous bout earlier in the year, the 7-footer proved to be quite the game-changer as he put up another double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
He would also dominate the offensive glass, notching 5 boards on this side of the ball. As a whole, the Thunder would finish with 17
His impact was an instant sign that OKC will have the upper hand in this head-to-head when fully healthy and when they inevitably see each other in the playoffs.
Dud: Jalen Williams
It seems as though Jalen Williams' kryptonite is Dallas. Ever since last year's playoff semifinal series he has struggled against these Mavs.
Tuesday, the rising star would score 18 points, but it came on a lowly 38.1 percent clip from the field while also going 0-for-3 from distance.
He looked solid in virtually every other aspect on the night, but his scoring needs to pick up in the next matchup, as it will not always work out as it did in this one -- you know, where Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving were held to just 33 points combined.
If the Thunder hope to get past Dallas in the playoffs, Williams will need to be able to display his full scoring capabilities.
Stud: Luguentz Dort
The Dorture Chamber was clearly seen in this NBA Cup-advancing matchup, as this was one of the best defensive performances by Lu Dort all year.
The pesky guard was tasked with guarding superstar Luka Doncic on the night, and he did not disappoint en route to limiting him to 16 points and a putrid 5-for-15 shooting.
He also held Doncic to his worst first half of scoring since his rookie campaign, only putting up two points through the initial two-quarters of action.
Dort also showed off his shooting stroke this game, as he put up 11 points on 42.9 percent shooting from long range.
Without Lu, the Thunder might not be heading to Vegas with their hopes of claiming the NBA Cup still alive and well.