DALLAS 81, OKLAHOMA CITY 77 (Demons lead 2-1)
DEMONS WIN INJURY-PLAGUED CONTEST
DALLAS -- In a game that saw three key players (two for Dallas) leave the contest with injuries, the defending champion Blue Demons came from behind to defeat Oklahoma City 81-77.
First, Dallas center Biggus Dickus was felled in the first quarter and lost for the remainder of the game. At that point, things were looking up for Oklahoma City, who had a chance to win the game against short-handed Dallas, which would have left them just one win away from a major championship upset.
But, as has too often been the case, that glimmer of hope was snuffed in the second quarter when Oklahoma City's best player, King Czardines, went down for the count with a season-ending injury that eliminates him from the rest of the Finals.
Still, Oklahoma City led 38-35 at the half, and when Dallas superstar guard Juzan Djinn left the game in the third quarter with yet another injury. The Lariats finished strong to lead 58-51 going into the fourth.
But Dallas got huge lifts off the bench by P.D. Jazz (11 points) and center Izzy Mandelbaum (12 points) to cut into the Lariats' lead. And when league MVP Pete Marzano scored 7 consecutive points down the stretch, Oklahoma City had no counter punch and came up a loser.
POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS
Oklahoma City...4...0...3...2 Total=9
Dallas.................2...7...0...2 Total=11
TOPS IN POINTS PREVENTED
Both Handsy Joe Potatoe of Oklahoma City and Juzan Djinn of Dallas prevented 5 points each.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
29 GVP...PETE "THE STEAKMAN" MARZANO, the regular season MVP, came up HUGE for Dallas in the most crucial part of the ballgame, three times tying the game with clutch buckets on the way to a game-high 20 points that dominated his position. Before fouling out with 4 ticks left, the second-year forward went 9 for 11 from the floor (including a dunk over a blocked shot), tied for game-high in rebounds with 5, tied for game-high in blocked shots with 2 and tied for team-high in assists with 2. This was his second POG of the playoffs.
Other 20-plus GVP performers
21 GVP...Rookie forward Phillip Mianus of Oklahoma City dominated his power forward position, scoring a team-high 15 pooints, tying for game-high in boards with 5 and blocking 1 shot.
20 GVP...Dallas point guard Kopi Luwak buried 3 treys on the way to a 15-point game in which he also contributed 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
20 GVP...Playing just a bit more than half a game before his injury, Dallas guard Juzan Djinn still scored more points (16) than anyone on Oklahoma City, tied for most points prevented (5), tied for most blocked shots (2) and added 1 rebound and 1 assist.
20 GVP...Oklahoma City center Chochky Galumpkus was licking his chops at the prospect of going against the backup center for Dallas when Biggus Dickus went down. Although he scored 14 points, tied for most rebounds in the game with 5 and blocked 1 shot, the veteran needed to (and was expected) to do more considering the opportunity that was presented.
NEXT UP: It's back to Oklahoma City for Game 4 of the Finals, with Dallas needing just one win to repeat as MBA champions. Winning two in a row over the Whiz Kids is a tall order. Winning two in a row without their best player seems next to impossible.
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