Mavericks vs Thunder Final Score 128-119: Dallas Moves Above .500 On Home Stand, Back Into Playoff Picture

Mar 25, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) reacts after hitting a three point basket in overtime against the Oklahoma City Thunde at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

DALLAS MAVERICKS vs OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER Recap- March 25

After struggling in their loss to the Brooklyn Nets on March 23, Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks won a big game, 128-119 in overtime over the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 25 to move above .500 on their eight-game home stand (3-2) and win the season series over OKC (2-1).

It was the Mavericks’ fourth overtime game of the season and first win in overtime after losing the first three.

Dallas shot 50, 40 and 82 percent from the field, three and charity stripe while holding OKC to 50, 36 and 79 percent despite 43 points from Kevin Durant. Russell Westbrook added 23 points.

The Mavericks had the advantage in steals at 14-9 while outrebounding OKC 48-38. The Mavericks rank 27th in the league in rebounding while the Thunder rank second.

Dallas outscored the Thunder 17-8 in the extra period, and scored nine of the first 11 points in overtime to pull away.

Nowitzki led seven players with a stat-filling 32 points, 10 boards, six dimes and four steals. He shot just 11-of-23 and 2-of-8 from downtown, but came up with the clutch baskets Mavs fans are accustomed to seeing.

It was the first time in Dirk’s career that he reached those marks in a single game.

Dirk scored just 10 points on 2-of-12 shooting in 38 minutes against Brooklyn.

The 128 points marked a season-high for the Mavs. Their previous high came in a 129-127 loss in LA to the Clippers in regulation.

Monta Ellis added 17 points, five dimes and four steals. Ellis came in averaging 10 points in the fourth quarter in the last four games. He scored 10 points after the third quarter, eight in the fourth.

The Mavericks have three games left on their home stand, starting with the Los Angeles Clippers on March 27.

West Standings: Portland continues to struggle, losing nine of its last 13, but remains in the 5th spot in the West by a slim margin. Dallas continues to battle for the 7th and 8th seed with the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns. The Golden State Warriors continue to hold down the 6th seed.

5. Portland Trail Blazers (45-27); 10 games remaining, six home/four away (MEM, LAC, GSW, PHX, CHI)

6. Golden State Warriors (44-27)- 0.5 games back; 11 games remaining, six home/five away (MEM, DAL, SAS, POR)

7. Memphis Grizzlies (42-28/0.600)- 2 games back; 12 games remaining, four home/eight away (GSW, PHX, MIA, DAL, SAS, POR, PHX)

8. Dallas Mavericks (43-29/0.597)- 2 games back; 10 games remaining, five home/five away (LAC, LAC, PHX, MEM, SAS, GSW)

9. Phoenix Suns (42-29/0.592)- 2.5 games back; 11 games remaining, four home/seven away (DAL, MEM, WSH, POR, OKC, LAC, SAS)

He’s STILL Dirk: Despite the poor shooting night vs the Nets, even at 35 years old, he’s still Dirk Nowitzki, the greatest Dallas Maverick to ever play. His 32 points was his eighth 30-point game of the season. His double-double was just his fourth of the year and first since 38 and 17 vs the Rockets on Jan. 29. It was his 10th game of the season with five or more assists, and it was his seventh game of the year with 20+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists. Of note, his basketball mentor, Holger Geschwindner was in attendance vs the Thunder and throughout his career, it always seems like Dirk has a good game whenever he’s in front of Holger. Dirk scored eight points in the first quarter, seven in the third, eight in the fourth and seven in the overtime period.

JOSE FOR THREE: Jose Calderon probably hit the biggest shot of his short career in Dallas when he hoisted a 24-foot 3-pointer over Durant with 26 seconds left to tie the game at 111. That after Durant hit the go-ahead trey with 39 seconds left. Calderon, not known for his defense, played some of the best defense of the night, late in the game and made two great defensive plays in the fourth quarter, one of which on Westbrook that prevented the Thunder to hit the game-winning shot. Calderon was questionable to start after leaving the Nets game in the opening seconds after he took a shot in the face. He didn’t return vs the Nets. Calderon finished with 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 6-of-9 from downtown vs OKC. He also added eight assists.

OKC/DAL 1st-Round Match Up? Some Mavs fans may have thought a couple months ago that they didn’t want to see Dallas in the 7th or 8th spot because they didn’t want to play the Spurs or Thunder, but now a first-round match up between OKC and Dallas doesn’t seem that too bad. After winning the 2011 Western Conference Finals, 4-1, vs the Thunder, the Mavericks really struggled against OKC, which included a first-round sweep in 2012 and an 11-game losing streak. But Dallas came away with a 23-point victory in OKC in the teams’ second meeting (without Westbrook) and now with this win, it really seems that the Mavs can give the Thunder a run in the playoffs.

Let’s Play Overtime Again: Tonight’s game marked the Mavericks’ fourth overtime game of the season and a remarkable third in their last four games. Dallas lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 123-122 on March 19 and lost by three to the Nets. In fact, all four have been home games and after losing their first three by a combined FIVE points, the Mavericks won a very important game in their race to the West playoffs. The Mavs final two regular season games will come against the Suns and the Grizzlies. They already own the season series tiebreaker with Memphis while their contest with Phoenix will determine the tiebreaker as both teams have won one in the series.