Dallas Mavericks Receive Big Break with Five Straight Home Games
The Dallas Mavericks received a big break when the NBA’s schedule-makers gifted them with five straight home games to start the 2025-26 season.
That’s where the grace stopped.
The Mavericks’ first set of back-to-back games included a visit from the Oklahoma City Thunder, which entered the first meeting of the season as one of four remaining undefeated teams.
After claiming their first win of the season one night before, the Mavericks suffered a heartbreaking 101-94 loss to the Thunder despite a valiant comeback effort.
Mavericks Struggle Against Thunder
Dallas trailed by as many as 22 but went on an electric 25-4 run in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to one point on a floater by D’Angelo Russell.
The Mavericks trailed by three points with 33 seconds remaining, 15 on the shot clock, when Russell missed a contested 3-pointer. The ball grazed the front of the rim and Chet Holmgren grabbed the rebound until P.J. Washington swiped the ball down, which went out of bounds off of the Mavericks forward’s foot. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd challenged the call but was unsuccessful.
Kidd gave his interpretation of the play after the game.
“I thought the way the group was playing, ball touching the paint and finding someone, I thought we were going to look for that but D-Lo felt like he had a good look. Came up short,” he said.
Injury Concerns for Mavericks
The first play of the game had lasting ramifications as Flagg collided with Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, leading to discomfort in his left arm. Coming off the best game of his young career the night before, Flagg struggled with just two points, two rebounds and two steals. He favored his left arm throughout the first half, and his only score was a contested floater over Chet Holmgren, Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams.
It was apparent Flagg’s left arm was bothering him when he was spotted several times with his shoulder wrapped with a heating pad during timeouts in the second half. He said he doesn’t remember how the injury happened, but attributed his struggles in the game to the lack of experience playing two days in a row.
“I think it was fine,” Flagg said after the game with his shoulder wrapped in ice. “I think in general, one of the biggest differences from college to this level is handling and preparing for a back-to-back like that, physically. That was something I was going through tonight anyway, just being a little flat. A little banged up, but you gotta find ways to play through it to be successful.”
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg looks on from the sidelines during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Dallas, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025.
LM Otero / AP
Mavericks Performance Against Thunder
Aside from Flagg’s off night, the Mavericks were abysmal on both ends of the floor. They shot 37.9% from the field, 30.8% from beyond the arc and 72.7% from the stripe.
Dallas made progress with its turnover issue, coughing up the ball only nine times. But it couldn’t manufacture enough offense to compete with the Thunder until its 25-point fourth quarter.
Davis, who started at center, led the Mavericks with 26 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. He scored a transition layup as he was fouled that brought the Mavericks within three with 1:25 left. Washington’s block on Gilgeous-Alexander sparked the play.
PJ Washington blocked SGA’s floater, which led to a fast break and Davis got an and-one on the other end.
Smart play by Russell to bring the ball back out. pic.twitter.com/0s3Cvwmqpp
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) October 28, 2025
Thunder Performance Against Mavericks
Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 23 points, four rebounds and eight assists. Holmgren, who was initially listed as questionable with low back soreness, had 18 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. His viral moment occurred early in the third quarter when he pump-faked Washington, drove to the basket and threw down a one-handed slam over Flagg.
Hartenstein also took advantage of Dallas’ thin frontcourt and recorded a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Oklahoma City played without Jalen Williams and Alex Caruso, while the Mavericks were without Lively, Gafford, Brandon Williams, Dante Exum and Kyrie Irving.
Next Game for Mavericks
The Mavericks will conclude their five-game homestand against the defending Eastern Conference champions when the Pacers visit American Airlines Center on Wednesday.
Flagg said he’s not concerned about his availability for Wednesday’s game against the Pacers.
“We’re going to probably get some scans or whatever,” Flagg said. “Make sure everything’s all clean. I feel like it’s just a little sore. Just wanted to keep an eye on it. Ice it. Do some rehab and we should be good to go.”
Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Conclusion
The Dallas Mavericks suffered a tough loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite a strong comeback effort in the fourth quarter. The team struggled with injuries and inconsistent play, but showed promise with their 25-point fourth quarter. The Mavericks will look to bounce back against the Pacers on Wednesday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the final score of the game between the Mavericks and Thunder?
A: The final score was 101-94 in favor of the Thunder.
Q: Who led the Mavericks in scoring?
A: Anthony Davis led the Mavericks with 26 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.
