Thunder at the death in Game 1 against the Mavs. (Getty Images)

OKLAHOMA CITY -- With about 60 minutes to go until Game 1 between the Thunder and Mavericks tipped off, a couple Thunder players passed around a pack of gum. It was called "Rescue," which is supposed to "relieve occasional stress" with natural ingredients.

But it was Kevin Durant who came to the rescue for the Thunder, relieving the stress of 18,203 packed into Chesapeake Energy Arena with a game-winning shot with 1.5 seconds left. It hit rim, then backboard then rim again, before finally falling through to save Oklahoma City from a near Game 1 disaster to the defending champion Mavericks.

“I just didn’t want to settle for a 3 so I just tried to take it closer and shoot a shot. I got enough arc on it and it was able to fall through,” Durant said.

Settling has been a bit of an issue for the league's three-time scoring champ. With his outrageous height and range, Durant has often favored settling for a deep 3 in crunch time moments for the Thunder. Not this time though. He made the decision to be aggressive towards the basket, and despite Shawn Marion playing terrific defense, Durant worked his way to the free throw line and fired up a prayer that was answered.

“It takes a lot of misses for me to finally get it,” Durant said. “I just got to keep going and keep improving, watching film and knowing what it takes for me to take good shots and make good shots.”

A step in the right direction for the 23-year-old. Durant already has established himself as one of the league's premier clutch players, but the settling issue has been something of a battle for him.

“One thing about Kevin, he’s always improving," said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. "He’s a developing player and he believes in what we do and he continues to be a tough critic on himself, with a little help from me. I like the fact he drove to the basket to an area that he can make that shot. It was a great shot. It was contested, but great players make tough shots. That’s what he has to do. There are times he has a tendency to take a 3 that is not needed, but I like the fact he drove to the basket and got into a place that he can pull up above the defender.”

Russell Westbrook, who was instrumental in keeping OKC's head above water while Durant struggled to find a consistent offensive rhythm, said he knew exactly what he needed to do on that final possession.

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“My job was easy. Just get the ball to Kevin. And that’s what I did.”

It wasn't that simple for Westbrook for the first 45 minutes or so. Marion had Durant on lockdown, taking away his reliable postgame and hassling him everywhere he went off the ball. So Westbrook assumed offensive responsibility for OKC.

"Russ carried us all night," Durant said.

It was a minor miracle Durant even had the opportunity to win it though. The Mavs led by seven with 2:16 to go and knowing the past history between these two teams, it seemed all but in the bag. Between demons Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry, it was a painful replay for the Thunder watching those two gut-punch them. Instead this time, the Thunder turned the tables.

"[Last year] we came up with those bounces and we were the ones on top," Dirk said. "Too many times in close games, I think we have a losing record in those games. It's tough. It's definitely as tough a loss as you can get."

Though while the win is certainly nice for OKC, it's pretty obvious that this opening round will be far from a cakewalk. The Mavs fully intend to defend their crown. Nothing is going to come easy and without big bounce going OKC's way, the Mavs take Game 1 and homecourt advantage from the Thunder.

“We’re going to keep coming at these guys. Trust me. We’re going to keep coming at them,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. “We have a tough-minded team. We have a locker room full of champions and these guys have big heart. We put ourselves in a strong position tonight and we didn’t get it done. And it’s on us, it’s on us. But we will not be deterred. We’re going to keep coming back at these guys. It’s what we have to do.”

What the Mavs will have to overcome is a Thunder team that finally believes it can win these type of games though. Durant has already sunk Dallas at the buzzer once this season, and now he's done it again. Westbrook dragged the Thunder to the finish line, and Durant pushed them over.

But it's one of four, and the Mavs showed their game. OKC pulled a Dallas and stole one out from under the defending champs, but it's just about winning. One way or the other. With a big bounce, a kiss off the backboard and a little luck, it doesn't really matter.

"It's the playoffs," Durant said. "No matter how it gets done, you got to do it."