MIKE CURTIS The Dallas Morning NewsThe inconceivable comeback heard around the country seemed nearly impossible at halftime.Stuck in a 16-point deficit, the Mavericks appeared as if they were headed toward an inevitable Game 7 in Oklahoma City against the No. 1 team in the Western Conference. Their tumultuous first half was plagued by 11 turnovers, a stagnant offense and an inability to contain Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.Jason Kidd used his halftime speech as an opportunity to urge his team to take better care of the ball. He wanted them to pick up the pace on offense. Trust was also a topic of conversation.They’d been in similar situations. Dallas erased a 31-point lead in Game 4 of the previous series against the LA Clippers but ultimately came up short. That wasn’t the case this time around.Several contributors helped Dallas rally for a resilient come-from-behind 117-116 victory over the Thunder to advance to its second Western Conference finals appearance in the last three seasons. The game ball could be awarded to a slew of candidates.There was the dynamic tandem of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who provided the shotmaking and playmaking needed to close out the young Thunder.For the third consecutive game, Derrick Jones Jr. provided an offensive spark for the Mavericks. His eight points in the first two minutes of the third quarter shifted the momentum back into Dallas’ favor. However, his fadeaway over Chet Holmgren as the shot clock expired gave the Mavericks a five-point lead with 1:11 remaining. It’s an example of why he’s likely to have a profitable offseason as an unrestricted free agent this summer.Dereck Lively II’s second consecutive playoff double-double (12 points, 15 rebounds) off the bench proved he’s a rookie center playing well beyond his years.Last but certainly not least: The late-game heroics of P.J. Washington — whom some might’ve considered an afterthought in the first three quarters — pushed the Mavericks across the finish line. He scored all nine of his points in the final 12 minutes of a game in which Dallas led for only three minutes.“We said at halftime, we’re not going [back] to OKC,” said Doncic, who recorded his third straight triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists.They’ll receive three days of rest before the start of the Western Conference finals. Had OKC forced a Game 7, Dallas would have had just one day between games.Speaking of rest, foul trouble hindered Washington ...
