The Dallas Mavericks led for just one minute during the first 44-plus minutes of Saturday's playoff battle against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Down the stretch, however, the Mavericks were wiser and more resilient than the ultra-talented Thunder while overcoming a 17-point, third-quarter deficit.

"You get to the point where you have the opportunity to close out a team, you have to take full advantage of it," Dallas guard Kyrie Irving said afterward.