OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Two young MVP finalists will square off when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and No. 1 seed Oklahoma City face Luka Doncic and No. 5 seed Dallas in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.
The series matching the high-scoring 25-year-olds begins Tuesday.
Doncic led the league in scoring this season at 33.9 points per game. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound guard averaged 29.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 9.5 assists in six first-round games against the Los Angeles Clippers.
He also has way more playoff experience than Gilgeous-Alexander, having led the Mavs to the Western Conference finals two years ago. The Thunder are coming off their first playoff series win since 2016.
“He is who he is for a reason,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “No one guy slows him down.”
Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort, one of the league’s best defensive wing players, will guard Doncic most of the time. While Doncic often overpowers opponents, Dort is solid at 6-4 and 220 pounds.
Maternal deaths have fallen to pre
Small ranching community tears itself apart as newly
WNBA ticket sales on StubHub are up 93%. Aces, Caitlin Clark and returning stars fuel rise
Netanyahu uses Holocaust ceremony to brush off international pressure against Gaza offensive
PSG defender Lucas Hernández injured in Champions League semifinal first leg at Dortmund
Bears waive punter Trenton Gill after drafting Iowa's Tory Taylor
26 Republican attorneys general sue to block Biden rule requiring background checks at gun shows
The Celtics and Cavaliers last met in playoffs in 2018. This time Boston is the team to beat
Colombia's president says country will break diplomatic relations with Israel over war in Gaza
Macron sets Ukraine war as top priority as China's Xi Jinping arrives in France
Rumer Willis displays her stunning bikini body during family getaway to Mexico