An 11-0 run settles it
Oklahoma City had not lost in October since 2023. That streak, 15 games long, ended Wednesday night in Dallas, where the Mavericks beat the Thunder 120-96 and ended their perfect start to the season.
The game turned right after halftime. Dallas led 65-59 at the break, with the Thunder having cut a 12-point deficit to four late in the second quarter. Then the Mavericks opened the third with an 11-0 run, starting with a Cooper Flagg pass to Kyrie Irving for a floater and ending with a Flagg pull-up jumper. Oklahoma City scored only 37 points after the break and shot 30% in the half.
Flagg finished with 26 points, eight assists and five rebounds in almost 33 minutes, and he did not turn the ball over once. P.J. Washington added 18 points and nine rebounds, and eight Dallas players reached double figures.
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A short-handed Thunder, and a shooting gap
The Thunder arrived without Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso. Williams and Wallace were hurt in Sunday’s win over the Clippers, and the gaps showed. Oklahoma City made 5 of 32 from three, while Dallas hit 16.
Ajay Mitchell scored 29, two days after a career-high 30. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 21 on 7-of-19 shooting. The Thunder were chasing a record, a third straight season opening 5-0, which no team in NBA history has managed.
Caleb Martin also made his season debut for Dallas after missing the first four games and scored in double figures. Dallas turned 14 Oklahoma City turnovers into 16 points and gave up only nine off its own 11.
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