Dallas, TX – The Dallas Mavericks delivered a commanding performance on Wednesday night, defeating the injury‑hit Oklahoma City Thunder 120‑96 at the American Airlines Center. Freshman guard Cooper Flagg was the star, tallying 26 points and eight assists, helping the Mavericks climb to a 3‑2 record and move above the .500 mark for the first time since Flagg arrived last fall.
Key contributors and game flow
Flagg’s scoring burst came early, and he kept the pressure on the Thunder throughout the night. He was ably supported by veteran Kyrie Irving, who added 15 points, including a perfect first‑half shooting stretch of 13 points on his first four attempts, three of them from beyond the arc. Irving’s return to a home regular‑season game marked his first appearance since a torn ACL sidelined him on March 3, 2025.
Alongside Flagg and Irving, the Mavericks saw solid contributions from Ajay Mitchell, who poured in 29 points, and P.J. Washington, who added 18 points. The team’s shooting from distance was spectacular, sinking a season‑best 16 three‑pointers on 45 attempts, with 11 of those made before halftime.
Thunder’s struggles
Oklahoma City entered the game missing several key players. The Thunder were without Jalen Williams (broken leg, dislocated ankle), Cason Wallace (torn labrum), and Chet Holmgren (patellar tendinitis). Alex Caruso also sat out with the same knee issue that kept him sidelined in the previous home win over Phoenix. The depleted roster managed only five made threes on 32 attempts, a season‑low 15.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Despite the setbacks, the Thunder’s young star Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander produced 21 points, and veteran Ajay Mitchell (who now plays for Dallas) scored 29 for the Thunder before his trade.
Coaching milestones
First‑year Mavericks head coach Dusty May celebrated his inaugural home victory on his second attempt, guiding the team to a dominant fourth‑quarter lead of 27 points. The win also marked the Mavericks’ first home triumph under May’s leadership.
Notable moments
Center Daniel Gafford recorded his first three‑point make in eight NBA seasons, converting his 2,384th career shot from beyond the arc. The milestone highlighted Dallas’ emphasis on spacing and perimeter shooting.
Looking ahead
Both teams have upcoming challenges. Dallas will host the Houston Rockets on Friday, aiming to build on the momentum from this victory. Oklahoma City travels to Houston for a road game against the Rockets on Saturday, hoping to rebound from the loss and regain confidence.
The Mavericks’ strong showing underscores the depth and resilience of a roster that blends veteran talent with promising young players. With Flagg’s emergence and Irving’s return to health, Dallas appears poised for a competitive stretch as the season progresses.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
