Dallas Mavericks Beat Oklahoma City Thunder 120-96 as Injuries Bite

The Oklahoma City Thunder dropped their first game of the season on Wednesday night, falling to the Dallas Mavericks 120-96. The loss ended a four-game winning streak that had left the team poised to become the first in NBA history to open three straight seasons with a 5-0 record. Instead, the Thunder found themselves outmatched by a Dallas squad that found its shooting rhythm early and never slowed down.

Cooper Flagg anchored the Dallas effort with 26 points and eight assists. P.J. Washington added 18 points to help the Mavericks dominate the scoreboard. Dallas built a lead of 12 points in the first half and extended that gap to 27 in the fourth quarter, effectively closing out the contest before the final buzzer.

The disparity in shooting revealed itself immediately. The Mavericks connected on 16 of 45 three-point attempts, a season-high mark that included 11 of those successes in the first half. Oklahoma City, by contrast, made just five of 32 attempts from beyond the arc. That 15.6% shooting percentage from deep represented a season-low for the Thunder, leaving them unable to keep pace with Dallas' offensive output.

Kyrie Irving played a pivotal role in establishing the early lead. He scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half, making his first four shots, which included three from long range. This marked his first home regular-season appearance since suffering a torn ACL in March 2025. Center Daniel Gafford also contributed an unexpected boost, hitting the first three-pointer of his eight-year NBA career.

The Thunder managed the game without several key players. Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace both missed the action, following extended absences due to injuries suffered Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers. Williams underwent surgery in New York on Wednesday for a fractured fibula and dislocated left ankle, while Wallace is recovering from labrum repair surgery in his left shoulder. Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso also remained sidelined with knee and other issues, respectively.

These absences forced coach Mark Daigneault to rely on younger players. Jaylin Williams defended Flagg, while rookie Josh Dix faced Irving. Despite the challenges, Ajay Mitchell delivered a strong performance, scoring 29 points after a career-high 30 against Phoenix the previous night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 21 points for Oklahoma City.

Daigneault acknowledged the difficulty of the matchup but emphasized the value of the experience for his roster. "We've got a lot of new guys playing right now, guys playing different roles," Daigneault said. "We have to invest in [them], and we'll get better at it. They'll improve as they get those reps." He noted that Williams and Wallace have remained connected to the team, helping the group maintain its competitive edge despite their physical absence.