OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Russell Westbrook had 24 points and 11 assists, Kevin Durant added 23 points, and the Thunder overwhelmed the Dallas Mavericks 108-70 on Saturday night, opening the Western Conference series with their most dominant postseason performance since moving to Oklahoma City.
Serge Ibaka had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Enes Kanter added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Thunder.
It was Oklahoma City’s largest victory margin in a playoff game since moving from Seattle before the 2008-09 season, and the lowest point total the franchise has allowed in a postseason game, in Seattle or Oklahoma City.
Dallas scored its fewest points ever in a playoff game, and its .298 field-goal percentage was the worst ever in a postseason game for a franchise that has existed since 1980.
Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 18 points.
Game 2 will be Monday in Oklahoma City.
The Thunder rolled to a 21-7 lead as Dallas made just three of its first 19 shots. Durant made 4 of 6 shots in the first quarter and scored nine points to help Oklahoma City take a 26-11 lead.
Frustration mounted for the Mavericks, and Nowitzki was called for a technical foul late in the second quarter. Durant made the free throw, then made a 3-pointer on the next possession to push Oklahoma City’s lead to 52-23.
The Thunder led 59-33 at halftime. It was the fewest points the Oklahoma City franchise has allowed in the first half of a playoff game since the move from Seattle, and matched the fewest the Mavericks have ever scored in the first half of a playoff game. The Mavericks shot just 26.2 percent from the field before the break.
The Thunder pushed the lead to 30 on a jumper from Ibaka with about 7 minutes left in the third quarter. The Thunder made 12 of 18 shots in the period to take a 93-51 lead into the fourth quarter.
INJURY REPORT
Thunder F Nick Collison sat out the second half with a chest contusion. Mavericks G J.J. Barea sat out the second half with a right groin strain, the same injury that had limited his play in recent weeks.
COURTSIDE
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver attended the game. Buddy Hield, the high-scoring guard who led Oklahoma to the Final Four, also attended.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: F David Lee missed this game, and might miss Game 2 with a plantar fascia injury. … Salah Mejri started at center. The rookie started just six games in the regular season. He finished with one point and four rebounds. … Missed their first 10 3-pointers. … Dallas coach Rick Carlisle was called for a technical foul with 4:43 left in the third quarter.
Thunder: G Cameron Payne was inactive with hip soreness. Thunder coach Billy Donovan said it wasn’t too severe. … Improved to 5-0 against Dallas this season. … Outrebounded the Mavericks 56-33.
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