Mavericks Beat Injured Thunder 120-96

Cooper Flagg led the Dallas Mavericks to a 120-96 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, ending the Thunder's four-game winning streak. The loss snapped Oklahoma City's season-opening run of perfect results. Flagg finished with 26 points and eight assists, while P.J. Washington added 18 points for Dallas.

The Mavericks (3-2) dominated the perimeter shooting contest. Dallas hit a season-high 16 three-pointers on 45 attempts. The Thunder (4-1) made only five of their 32 three-point shots. That 15.6% shooting percentage from deep marked a season low for Oklahoma City. Dallas established a 12-point lead in the first half and expanded the margin to 27 points in the fourth quarter.

Kyrie Irving scored 15 points for Dallas, 13 of which came in the first half. He made his first four shots, including three from beyond the arc. This marked his first home regular-season appearance since suffering a torn ACL in March 2025. Center Daniel Gafford also contributed by making the first three-pointer of his eight-year NBA career.

Oklahoma City played without two key guards due to injuries. Jalen Williams underwent surgery in New York on Wednesday for a fractured fibula and dislocated left ankle. Cason Wallace is recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Both players missed the game after suffering injuries Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers. Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso also sat out.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated that the team kept Flagg out of the deep paint but paid the price regardless. "I thought we kept them out of the deep paint on a lot of those, and he made us pay regardless," Daigneault said. He noted that Irving stabilized the Mavericks early with scoring and moved the ball effectively against Oklahoma City coverages.

Ajay Mitchell provided a strong offensive output for the Thunder, scoring 29 points. This followed his career-high 30-point performance against Phoenix on Monday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 21 points. Daigneault praised Mitchell's consistency and work ethic. "He's been a great worker, he's been a very consistent and stable personality," Daigneault said. "He just keeps his head down and does whatever it is that the team needs to help us win."

The absence of Williams and Wallace forced Daigneault to rely on younger players in new roles. Jaylin Williams defended Flagg, while rookie Josh Dix guarded Irving. Daigneault acknowledged the challenges of the current roster. "We've got a lot of new guys playing right now, guys playing different roles," he said. "We have to invest in [them], and we'll get better at it. They'll improve as they get those reps."

Williams and Wallace remained connected to the team despite their injuries. Daigneault said both players communicated with the group to maintain competitiveness. "The guys have heard from Dub," Daigneault said. "That's kind of giving the guys permission to get ready every night and go compete." He credited both players for staying plugged into the team and encouraging their teammates.

The Thunder finished the season opener stretch with a 4-1 record. The team had a chance to become the first in NBA history to start three consecutive seasons 5-0. Daigneault described the performance as a night where the team gave itself chances before the game slipped away. "It wasn't our night," he said. "We gave ourselves some chances, and then the game got away from us a little bit."