4 Struggling Mavericks who must step up to take down the Thunder

Tonight, the Dallas Mavericks take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals after losing disappointingly on Monday night.

Dallas had every opportunity to take down the Thunder in Game 4, but missed free throws and the struggles of some of their key players plagued them in this loss.

This game could define the series depending on who wins Game 5, and it seems like the momentum shifted in favor of the Thunder.

4 Struggling Mavericks who must step up to take down the Thunder

While the Mavs still have a great shot of taking down the Thunder, it's not going to be easy. Several Mavericks players have to play better for Dallas to win this series, and they could have this series in the palm of their hands if they win Game 5.

Everyone knows that the winner of Game 5 in a tied 2-2 series typically wins, and Dallas will have their work cut out for them playing in Oklahoma City.

Here are four Dallas Mavericks players who must play better for them to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in this series.

4. Josh Green

Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Green could be the difference-maker in this series due to his infectious energy and shot-making ability, but he hasn't gotten much of a chance since Games 1 and 2.

Green scored 11 points in both Game 1 and 2, and he played a combined 40 minutes in those two games. He was flying around the court, knocking down timely shots, and giving his all on both ends. Everyone knows that Green is always going to bring energy and shooting, but his output has declined over the last two games.

In Games 3 and 34, Green has scored a combined six points on 2-7 shooting. Green knocked down a three in both of these games, but his inefficiency has been glaring.

His minutes have gone way down in these two games as he only played just over 28 minutes combined in these two games, but he has to be a little better. Minutes are extremely tight in the playoffs, and Green has to make a bit of a bigger impact in his minutes.

The Mavs will need Green to make his open looks, and Game 5 could be telling for what his role looks like for the rest of the series.

3. Kyrie Irving

In Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving had just nine points while shooting 4-11 from the field and 1-2 from the free-throw line. Irving did dish out nine assists in this game, but nine points from one of your superstars in a playoff game is unacceptable.

The Mavs are in win-or-go-home territory right now, and the Mavs couldn't buy a bucket down the stretch of Game 4. Irving is typically someone who the Mavs rely heavily upon in the clutch, but just like his teammates, he couldn't get anything going.

Irving's nine-point game in Game 4 was his second nine-point game of this series, and the Mavs must demand more from him. Tim Hardaway Sr., the father of Tim Hardaway Jr., said that he thinks that Irving is deferring to Luka Doncic too much, and although Irving is getting double-teamed consistently, he must put an emphasis on getting involved early.

Irving is someone who usually feels the game out for the first quarter or two before putting the pedal to the metal and taking over the game, but he has to be aggressive from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

Irving is one of the greatest and most skilled guards to play the game, and he has to leave his mark on this series. All-time greats don't disappear when their team needs them most, and Game 5 will be telling of how he responds to this moment of adversity.

2. Dante Exum

The story of the entire playoffs for the Dallas Mavericks has been the disappointing play of Dante Exum, but Game 4 was a huge step in the right direction. Exum finished with five points in his five minutes of action while shooting 2-4 from the field and 1-1 from downtown.

Exum had shown no confidence throughout the entire playoffs and his shooting has been horrendous but his performance in Game 4 was promising.

For the entire 2024 NBA Playoffs, Exum is averaging 1.9 points per game while shooting 24.1 percent from the field and 18.2 percent from downtown. This was a huge shock considering how good he was during the regular season, and he has been the weak link of the Mavericks rotation.

When handling the ball, Exum has not been showing much assertiveness at all, and all of his strengths from the regular season, including his shooting, have crumbled. Exum has still brought good defense, but the Mavs need more out of him in his limited minutes.

If Exum can replicate his impact from Game 4 consistently, his minutes will only go up. The Mavs may need some sort of spark after that crushing Game 4 loss, and Exum could be an unspoken X-factor for the rest of the series.

Knocking down open shots, taking care of the ball, and playing good defense will be key for him.

1. Luka Doncic

One of the craziest parts of the 2024 NBA Playoffs has been the struggles of Luka Doncic, and this has unarguably been the worst playoffs of his career. Doncic is averaging 26.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 40 percent from the field and 26 percent from downtown.

Doncic's injuries are clearly hindering his performance, but he still has to be much, much better. Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault proclaimed before the series started that Lu Dort would be guarding Doncic, and he has done a decent job so far.

Although Doncic has gotten the best of him plenty of times, Dort's most value in the series has been frustrating Doncic. He has been giving him no airspace, and Doncic seems more focused on drawing fouls than just playing his game.

This is not the same Doncic that fans saw during the regular season, and he must be better, regardless of injury. Doncic is missing many of the shots around the bucket that he typically makes, and the outcome of this series could rest on his shoulders.

A vintage Luka performance would almost guarantee a Mavs win, and Dallas is yet to see a true vintage Luka performance despite him having a couple of solid performances.

Even Doncic would be the first one to tell you that he isn't performing at his normal level, and the Mavs need him to step up in a big way in Game 5.

For all the latest on Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks throughout the 2024 NBA Playoffs, stay tuned.