獨行俠 對雷霆

The Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder faced off in a highly anticipated matchup on Tuesday night. The Mavericks, led by MVP candidate Luka Dončić, were looking to extend their winning streak to six games, while the Thunder, led by the dynamic duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, were hoping to snap their two-game losing skid.

The first half was a tightly contested affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a significant advantage. Dončić led the way for the Mavericks with 15 points, while Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder with 13.

However, the second half was a different story. The Mavericks came out of the locker room with renewed energy and quickly seized control of the game. Dončić was unstoppable, scoring 20 points in the third quarter alone. The Thunder, meanwhile, struggled to keep up with the Mavericks' pace and shooting.

Dončić was simply brilliant on Tuesday night. He finished the game with a game-high 42 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. It was his fourth triple-double of the season and his second in the last three games.

Dončić's performance was all the more impressive considering that he was playing against one of the league's best defenses. The Thunder have the fourth-best defensive rating in the NBA, but they had no answer for Dončić. He was able to create his own shot at will and also set up his teammates for easy baskets.

The Thunder got off to a slow start in the second half and were never able to recover. They shot just 38% from the field in the third quarter and were outrebounded by the Mavericks 16-7. That allowed the Mavericks to build a double-digit lead that they would not relinquish.

The Thunder were also hurt by the absence of their starting center, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. Robinson-Earl is one of the Thunder's best defenders and his absence was felt on the defensive end. The Mavericks were able to score in the paint at will and the Thunder had no answer.

The Mavericks' win was their sixth in a row and it moved them into a tie for the fourth seed in the Western Conference. They will be back in action on Thursday when they host the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Thunder's loss dropped them to 10-14 on the season. They will be back in action on Friday when they host the Los Angeles Lakers.

Who do you think will win the next matchup between the Mavericks and the Thunder? Will the Mavericks continue their winning streak or will the Thunder bounce back and get a victory? Let us know in the comments below.