The Dallas Mavericks are in a tight battle in the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the higher-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Although they entered the series as the underdogs, the Mavs somehow found a way to take a 2-1 series lead after three games thanks in large part to the breakout playoff series PJ Washington is having.
Washington has been playing so good that former NBA big man and current ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins said that Washington has practically morphed into some kind of a Ray Allen clone.
“PJ Washington has turned into Ray Allen and Daniel Gafford is showing the world how he’s a Top 3 lob threat in the NBA. It’s crazy what a different organization and Coach could do for player,” Perkins shared on X (the social media platform previously known as Twitter).
Washington has a long way to go to be on the level of Allen, but it’s undeniable that he is indeed shooting the rock like an elite outside sniper in the Thunder series. After four games in the second round, the former Kentucky Wildcats star has averaged 21.8 points while shooting 49.3 percent from the field and a spectacular 51.4 percent from behind the arc. In Game 4, Washington continued his sizzling 3-point form, as he drained five of 11 attempts from downtown while finishing with 21 points albeit in a 100-96 loss.
The series against Oklahoma City is now tied at 2-2. The hope for the Mavs is that Washington, who was acquired by Dallas via a trade with the Charlotte Hornets last February, will be able to sustain his form the rest of the way.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!