Three stars from Thursday's NBA playoff games
After opening the conference semifinals with victories, both top seeds tasted defeat in Game 2 of their second-round series on Thursday. The Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back, blowing out the Boston Celtics, while the Dallas Mavericks knocked off the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Here are three stars from Thursday's night's action.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell | 29 points, five three-pointers, eight assists, seven rebounds
Mitchell had only six points at halftime but recorded 23 of his game-high 29 points in the second half, leading the Cavaliers to a crucial Game 2 win over the Celtics. He shot the lights out, finishing 5-of-7 from beyond the arc and 10-of-19 from the field while committing only one turnover over 39 minutes.
In the first half, Mitchell passed on scoring, choosing instead to get his teammates involved early. That translated into solid outings for Evan Mobley (21 points), Caris LeVert (21 points) and Darius Garland (14 points). He then played the closer role down the stretch, essentially ending things with five minutes left to send the series to Cleveland knotted up at one game apiece.
After the game, Jaylen Brown admitted that Mitchell "got the best" of the Celtics. The Cavaliers are still massive underdogs in the series, but thanks to a well-rounded effort and an enormous game from Mitchell, they've shown capable of beating the Eastern Conference's top seed.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley | 21-point, 10-rebound double-double
While Mitchell undoubtedly steers the Cavaliers' ship, Mobley showed why he could be one of the most important players in the series against the Celtics. With Game 2 all but a must-win against top-seeded Boston, he carried a major load for Cleveland on Thursday night.
Mobley played the big-man role for the Cavaliers, with Jarrett Allen missing a fifth consecutive game with an injury. He scored 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting, adding 10 boards, five assists and two blocks.
If the Cavaliers are to upset the Celtics, they'll need contributions from everyone. On Thursday, Mobley showed what could happen when Mitchell has someone else to depend on.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic | 29 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists
Doncic entered Game 2 with a knee injury, which obviously limited him in the Mavericks Game 1 loss to the No. 1 seed Thunder. However, on Thursday, he produced a herculean effort to send the series to Dallas tied at one game apiece.
Setting the tone early, Doncic came out firing, scoring 16 first-quarter points to help the Mavericks jump out to an early lead. He'd finish with 29 points (11-of-21) while hitting 5-of-8 attempts from beyond the arc.
Doncic's knee continues to be a concern and a nasty fall to the hardwood on Thursday only added to the bumps and bruises he's facing in the postseason. However, he fought through it, nailing several clutch shots down the stretch.
The only question is when he and the Mavericks will have enough in the tank to outlast the talented-yet-inexperienced Thunder. After Thursday's win, Doncic said it was one of the "hardest" games he's ever played, but the battle to win the series is just beginning.
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