Season 57 Finals Game 4...Dallas at Oklahoma City

DALLAS 83, OKLAHOMA CITY 74

DEMONS IN DRIVER'S SEAT

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Dallas Demons warded off the Oklahoma City Lariats for the second game in a row, coming up with a clutch road win, 83-74, and sending the championship series back to the Big D for the decisive fifth game.

Down 2-0 in the Finals, the five-time champion Demons now have the home court advantage and the opportunity to grab a record-breaking sixth title in a row.

A pressing defense in Game 4 netted Dallas 6 steals and numerous other turnovers by the Lariats that led to the victors getting off 18 more shots than their opponents. So, despite the fact that Oklahoma City had its best shooting game in the Finals at a blistering 61.1 percent; Dallas overcame its 47.2 percent shooting with one more made field goal and 4 more 3-point buckets.

Dallas guards came up huge in the triumph, with both Mini Carfart (25 points) and Hall of Famer Juzan Djinn (21 points) potting 3 treys each. Oklahoma City countered with two 20-point scorers in Bellybutton Inquisition (26) and Poop-Rupiah 3000 (20).

Dallas led by 6 at the half, but with Carfartt and Pete Marzano on the bench with foul trouble in the third quarter, the home team came roaring back to take a 63-62 lead going into the final stanza.

The visitors took the lead immediately to start the fourth and held it throughout. The lead increased to 8 with 31 ticks left. The closest the home team could get from that point on was 4 with 24 ticks remaining.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

34 GVP...Brilliant in defeat, Oklahoma City center POOP-RUPIAH 3000 secured his third POG of the playoffs and second of the Finals, going 10 for 11 from the floor with a trio of slams while tying for game-high in rebounds with 6. He sent regular season MVP, Hall of Fame center Biggus Dickus to the bench with 8 first-half shot rejections as he dominated the man who edged him out for All-MBA. He's now averaging 19.2 ppg in the playoffs and is the distinct front-runner for the MVP of the Playoffs honor going into the final game.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

33 GVP...Oklahoma City point guard Bellybutton Inquisition...26 points...4 rebounds...3 assists.

31 GVP...Dallas point guard Mini Carfartt...25 points (3 treys)...6 assists.

27 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame two guard Juzan Djinn...21 points (3 treys)...3 rebounds...2 steals...1 blocked shot.

22 GVP...Dallas retiring Hall of Fame small forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano...14 points...4 blocked shots...2 rebounds...1 assist...1 steal.

NEXT UP: It's for all the marbles in Dallas Sunday night.