Thunder: 3 studs, 2 duds from crushing Game 6 loss to Mavericks

Duds: Lu Dort, Cason Wallace

The two defensive menaces for the Thunder struggled to find their rythm on offense against the Mavericks. 

Lu Dort has lent his body to the Thunder to stop Dallas’ main man Luka Doncic in the entire series. Despite his defensive efforts, the team needed the wing to step up on offense too. Sadly, he would go on to struggle mightily in Game 6 with just 11 points on 3-of-10 shooting, including a 2-of-7 clip from the three-point line. 

Dort was also not as crisp in navigating screens, letting up multiple drives and advantages that the Mavericks capitalized on. Perhaps fatigue set in, but Dort’s tenacity and unrelenting attitude would have been more lethal if coupled with great shooting and a serviceable touch around the rim. 

Meanwhile, Cason Wallace finished the final game of his rookie campaign with five points on 2-of-8 shooting and 1-of-6 from three-point territory.  

Wallace has been a known shooter throughout the season, but shooting on the playoff stage proved to be a different monster. He shot 31 percent from deep in the 10-game postseason for the Thunder. 

Dort and Wallace’s ability to produce as two-way contributors hinged on punishing the defense with their stationery and movement shooting. The two could have unlocked so much of the team’s offense if they had hit their shots more frequently in the series, especially in Game 6.