Thunder's 5-0 Streak Bid Ends With 120-96 Loss in Dallas

The Oklahoma City Thunder fell to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, dropping their season to 4-1. The final score was 120-96, ending a run that had kept the Thunder undefeated through the opening week of the NBA season.

Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 26 points and eight assists, while P.J. Washington added 18. The Mavericks capitalized on a depleted Oklahoma City defense, building a lead of 12 in the first half and stretching their advantage to 27 points in the fourth quarter. This loss marked the first time in three consecutive seasons that the Thunder failed to start 5-0.

Shooting discrepancies defined the game. Dallas hit a season-high 16 three-pointers on 45 attempts, including 11 in the first half. The Thunder made only five of their 32 attempts from beyond the arc, shooting a season-low 15.6 percent. Daniel Gafford made the first three-pointer of his eight-year career, adding to the Mavericks' outside success.

Injury issues continue to reshape the Thunder rotation. The team played without Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace for the second straight game. Williams underwent surgery in New York on Wednesday to repair a fractured fibula and dislocated left ankle. Wallace is recovering from surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Chet Holmgren missed his second straight game with patellar tendinitis, and Alex Caruso remained sidelined.

Ajay Mitchell continued his strong start with 29 points, following a career-high 30-point performance against Phoenix on Monday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 21 points. Coach Mark Daigneault noted that the team had opportunities to stay closer but allowed the game to slip away. He praised Mitchell for keeping his head down and doing what the team needed.

Daigneault emphasized that younger players like Jaylin Williams and rookie Josh Dix are learning the speed of the game through these challenging matchups. Both Williams and Wallace, despite being out, have remained connected to the team, helping teammates maintain a competitive mindset. The Thunder now look to adjust their rotation as they await the return of their injured stars.

Kyrie Irving scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half for Dallas. He made his first four shots, including three from long distance, in his first home regular-season appearance since suffering a torn ACL in March 2025. Irving's early scoring helped Dallas establish its rhythm before the Thunder could find their offensive consistency.