Mavericks, Doncic prove toughness by overcoming top-seeded Oklahoma City

In a series that was dominated by vibes, returning to DFW for Game 6, the atmosphere for the Dallas Mavericks was laser-focused on eliminating the Oklahoma City Thunder at home lest the young legs of the Western Conference's No. 1 seed get to send things back north for a Game 7. Dallas players and fans alike arrived at the American Airlines Center in the signature black fit reserved for an elimination game, and Game 6 is also where the team took the court in their “Trinity River Blues” blackout jersey. On the other side, the Thunder were desperate to get things back to Oklahoma City for an “anything can happen” final tilt and played like it once the whistle blew. Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's continued revelation, the Thunder soared to a 16-point lead by halftime.