The Oklahoma City Thunder went to their bench to get even.
Kevin Durant scored 24 points, reserve James Harden fired in 10 of his 23 in the fourth quarter and the visiting Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks 106-100 on Thursday night to square the Western Conference finals at 1-1.
"Our bench played hard, winning games for us the whole year and tonight it was another case of that," Durant said. "James Hardin was unbelievable in the fourth quarter, Eric Maynor as well. They won the game for us."
Russell Westbrook scored 18, but Hardin along with fellow-substitutes Maynor (13 points) Daequan Cook (eight) and Nick Collison (six) outscored their counterparts 50-29 as the Thunder rebounded from a game one 121-112 loss on Tuesday night.
"It was tremendous," Harden said. "Eric made some great plays. Daequan made some big shots. Kevin did what he did. Nick played some great defence. I just tried to find my spots and make shots as well."
German Dirk Nowitzki followed up his spectacular 48-point game one performance with 29 points, including 16 in the final frame, but it wasn't enough as Dallas had its seven-game playoff winning streak snapped.
"They're bench changed the game and killed us," Nowitzki said. "Hardin and Maynor were phenomenal attacking in the fourth quarter. Their reserves took it to us and we weren't ready for them."
Tyson Chandler had 15 points with 13 rebounds, Jason Kidd added 14 points while reserve JJ Barea finished with 11 for Dallas, who shot 44 per cent from the field.
"I can't remember the last time we lost the battle of the bench," Barea said. "It was going to happen at some point and it happened tonight and I give them a lot of credit."
Hardin hit a rare four-play to put the Thunder ahead 77-76 after three quarters. He then teamed up with Maynor, Collison and Cook in the fourth quarter to outscore Mavs by five with Westbrook on the bench.
"We had a good start to the fourth quarter," Durant said. "You can't mess that chemistry up. Coach (Scott Brooks) made a good decision by doing that."
Hardin hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 7:37 remaining to trigger a 14-5 run. Maynor and Durant followed with jumpers before Cook connected on the three-pointer.
After Maynor waltzed in for a layup, Collison stole the ball from Nowitzki and Hardin's jumper from the top of the key capped it, giving the Thunder a 102-92 cushion with 3:15 left.
Dallas pulled within 102-98 on a pair of Nowitzki baskets and two DeShawn Stevenson free throws. Collison made two free throws, but fouled Nowitzki at the other end on a three-point attempt.
Nowitzki, who set an NBA record by hitting all 24 of his free throws on Tuesday, made two of three, bringing the hosts within 104-100 with 36.7 seconds left.
The Mavs had a shot to get closer after forcing a 24-second shot clock violation with 12.7 seconds to go. But Serbian sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic missed a three-pointer, and Thunder reserve Theo Sefolosha made two from the stripe to steal home-court advantage.
"We did our job coming here and getting a split is something we wanted to do," Durant said.
Dallas travel to Oklahoma City for the next two games, beginning Saturday night when the best-of-seven series resumes.
"Sometimes you get your butt kicked and you got to take it like a man," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "We have to respond."
Kevin Durant scored 24 points, reserve James Harden fired in 10 of his 23 in the fourth quarter and the visiting Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks 106-100 on Thursday night to square the Western Conference finals at 1-1.
"Our bench played hard, winning games for us the whole year and tonight it was another case of that," Durant said. "James Hardin was unbelievable in the fourth quarter, Eric Maynor as well. They won the game for us."
Russell Westbrook scored 18, but Hardin along with fellow-substitutes Maynor (13 points) Daequan Cook (eight) and Nick Collison (six) outscored their counterparts 50-29 as the Thunder rebounded from a game one 121-112 loss on Tuesday night.
"It was tremendous," Harden said. "Eric made some great plays. Daequan made some big shots. Kevin did what he did. Nick played some great defence. I just tried to find my spots and make shots as well."
German Dirk Nowitzki followed up his spectacular 48-point game one performance with 29 points, including 16 in the final frame, but it wasn't enough as Dallas had its seven-game playoff winning streak snapped.
"They're bench changed the game and killed us," Nowitzki said. "Hardin and Maynor were phenomenal attacking in the fourth quarter. Their reserves took it to us and we weren't ready for them."
Tyson Chandler had 15 points with 13 rebounds, Jason Kidd added 14 points while reserve JJ Barea finished with 11 for Dallas, who shot 44 per cent from the field.
"I can't remember the last time we lost the battle of the bench," Barea said. "It was going to happen at some point and it happened tonight and I give them a lot of credit."
Hardin hit a rare four-play to put the Thunder ahead 77-76 after three quarters. He then teamed up with Maynor, Collison and Cook in the fourth quarter to outscore Mavs by five with Westbrook on the bench.
"We had a good start to the fourth quarter," Durant said. "You can't mess that chemistry up. Coach (Scott Brooks) made a good decision by doing that."
Hardin hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 7:37 remaining to trigger a 14-5 run. Maynor and Durant followed with jumpers before Cook connected on the three-pointer.
After Maynor waltzed in for a layup, Collison stole the ball from Nowitzki and Hardin's jumper from the top of the key capped it, giving the Thunder a 102-92 cushion with 3:15 left.
Dallas pulled within 102-98 on a pair of Nowitzki baskets and two DeShawn Stevenson free throws. Collison made two free throws, but fouled Nowitzki at the other end on a three-point attempt.
Nowitzki, who set an NBA record by hitting all 24 of his free throws on Tuesday, made two of three, bringing the hosts within 104-100 with 36.7 seconds left.
The Mavs had a shot to get closer after forcing a 24-second shot clock violation with 12.7 seconds to go. But Serbian sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic missed a three-pointer, and Thunder reserve Theo Sefolosha made two from the stripe to steal home-court advantage.
"We did our job coming here and getting a split is something we wanted to do," Durant said.
Dallas travel to Oklahoma City for the next two games, beginning Saturday night when the best-of-seven series resumes.
"Sometimes you get your butt kicked and you got to take it like a man," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "We have to respond."
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