3 Substantiations after the Dallas Mavericks walloped the Oklahoma City Thunder, 120-96

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 28: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Center on October 28, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photog

Basketball Zone

SEE ALL

Rockets Wire

‘About time’: Fred VanVleet erupts in second half as 5-0 Rockets rout Bucks

AP News

Jaylen Brown says he never demanded a trade from Boston, is happy in new Philadelphia home

Reuters

Thunder's Jalen Williams undergoes successful leg surgery

What is the story about?

The Dallas Mavericks won their third game of the young season, winning against the Oklahoma City Thunder, 120-96. Cooper Flagg led a balanced Dallas effort with 26 points and eight rebounds. Ajay Mitchell had a team-high 29 in defeat for the Thunder

The opening quarter was a back-and-forth affair between the teams, with neither getting a firm advantage. Cooper Flagg came out gunning, scoring 12 in the period, with Kyrie Irving chipping in a pair of threes. Dallas shot the ball well early and it allowed

the Mavericks to keep pace when the Thunder kept scoring from inside the arc. A late Flagg floater followed by another Irving three gave Dallas a 33-30 lead heading into the second quarter.

Hot shooting from Dallas continued, growing the lead to double digits just four minutes into the frame. The Thunder attempted multiple pushes to eat into the Dallas lead, only to be rebuffed by timely shot-making. A personal 5-0 run from Ajay Mitchell cut the Mavericks’ lead in half with just over three minutes remaining. Following a Dusty May timeout, the teams traded baskets for the rest of the half, and Dallas went into the half up 65-59.

Cold shooting welcomed fans after halftime, with neither time connecting on an actual field goal for the first several possessions of the half . Steadily, Dallas built up a 15-point lead by the 7:30 mark through offensive rebounding and hustle. Over the next 90 seconds, the Thunder responded with a 7-0 run powered by Mitchell and SGA, forcing a Maverick timeout. Dallas settled in and Cooper Flagg helped the Mavericks close out the quarter on a 16-10 run. The Mavericks took to the final frame, up 94-81.

With Flagg on the bench, Marcus Sasser and Risacher took it upon themselves to drive the Thunder into the ground. A Caleb Martin three put Dallas up 17 points minutes into the period, forcing an Oklahoma City timeout. Dallas pushed the lead up 113-93 before the Thunder threw in the towel. The rest of the game was about making it out alive and uninjured. Dallas wins 120-96.