NBA: Flagg and Mavericks hand Thunder their first loss
Dallas beat Oklahoma City 120–96. Cooper Flagg posts 26 points and eight assists as the Mavericks hit sixteen three-pointers.
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Oklahoma City are no longer unbeaten. Dallas beat the Thunder 120–96 at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday 28 October, winning all four quarters. Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with 26 points and eight assists, without a turnover.
The gap was largely made from beyond the three-point line. Dallas hit sixteen of forty-five from deep, against five of thirty-two for Oklahoma City. That edge in shooting gave the hosts the means to repel the visitors' comebacks, then stretch the lead after the break.
Irving sparks Dallas, Thunder stay in touch
The first quarter ended with the Mavericks ahead 33–30. Kyrie Irving provided a quick spark and scored thirteen of his fifteen points before half-time. It was his first regular-season home game since his knee injury in March 2025.
Dallas led by as many as twelve points in the first half, but Ajay Mitchell kept the Thunder fighting. At the break, the visitors were still six points behind, 65–59. Mitchell finished as the game's top scorer with 29 points on twelve-of-twenty shooting.
Mavericks pull away after the interval
Dallas resumed their charge in the third quarter, winning it 29–22 to enter the final period leading 94–81. The bench then sustained that push and the lead reached twenty-seven points. Oklahoma City scored only fifteen points in the last twelve minutes.
P.J. Washington added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Mavericks. Zaccharie Risacher produced 13 points and six rebounds off the bench. Max Christie scored 11 points, while Caleb Martin, Morez Johnson Jr. and Marcus Sasser each reached double figures.
For the visitors, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points on seven-of-nineteen shooting, and Isaiah Hartenstein pulled down 14 rebounds. Without Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren, among others, the Thunder did not find enough support.
Dallas move to three wins and two defeats; Oklahoma City now stand at 4–1. Both sides face Houston next, the Mavericks on Friday and the Thunder on Saturday.