A heavy Game 5 matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks takes place tonight as the winner will take a 3-2 lead in the series.
Whoever wins this highly anticipated bout could potentially go on to win the series, punching their ticket to the Western Conference Finals.
Here are some X-Factors to watch in tonight's thrilling matchup.
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P.J. Washington
P.J. Washington has been a pivotal player in the Dallas Mavericks' postseason run.
He has logged some big-time performances by lighting up from three so far in this second-round series.
In Game 3, Washington was very especially effective for the Mavs, dropping 27 points while knocking down 5 of 12 three-point shots.
During Game 4, he lit the scoreboard up again and dropped 21 points on slightly better shooting from beyond the arch, but this was not enough to give the Mavericks the win.
Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic must step up in tonight's game against the Thunder if the Mavericks are to have a chance at winning this series.
The All-Star guard has struggled so far throughout the postseason, in large part due to injury.
Doncic did go for a Triple-Double with 18 points on 6-20 shooting, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in their Game 5 match. However, that pedestrian scoring performance won't cut it against a team like OKC.
In this all-important Game 5, Luka Doncic could be looking for a big-time performance.
Luguentz Dort
(Photo : Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images))
For the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Dorture Chamber has been alive and well in this series.
When guarded by Lu Dort, Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic have struggled to find their shot.
Defense, a staple of his game, has been a massive difference-maker in the series against the Mavericks. Dort has effectively slowed down the Mavs stars, making them uncomfortable in their shooting lanes and forcing turnovers in errant passes.
Cason Wallace
If anyone is making his minutes count in this postseason, it has to be Cason Wallace.
Whenever Mark Daigneault has called his number, the guard was able to make an impact either defensively or by hitting some big shots down the stretch.
Wallace made two big three-pointers in his 19 minutes of play during Game 4, jump starting OKC's comeback offensively; as he has also been a pest defensively when guarding Irving or Doncic.
The former No.10 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft is coming alive when it matters most in the playoffs.
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