DALLAS — The Oklahoma City Thunder extended their unbeaten start to the season Monday night, holding off a furious Dallas Mavericks rally for a 101-94 win at American Airlines Center.
The Thunder started the game by setting an early tone in the paint, where they built confidence through interior scoring and physical play. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren established control around the rim, helping Oklahoma City rack up 68 points in the paint by night’s end. A season high mark.
The early inside presence gave the Thunder rhythm offensively, though their defense at the point of attack wasn’t as sharp. Dallas was able to find open looks off the dribble and in transition, keeping the game clouse through the first half.
Despite the defensive lapses, Oklahoma City led 48-42 at halftime behind a strong paint attack the some easy misses on the Mavs end. While the Thunder have a lead, it was clear they couldn’t play the same way in the second half defensively because with the Mavs at home they probably felt good and felt like the open shots they were getting would eventually fall.
The Thunder, to their credit, made the necessary changes and made their move in the third quarter. Their defense tightened up, showing more physicality and discipline against Dallas’ drives and actions. Holmgren’s rim protection and Lu Dort and Cason Wallace’s on ball intensity began to take effect, forcing the Mavericks into tougher shots.
Meanwhile, the Thunder offense continued to attack the interior, with Holmgren finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks, and rookie Ajay Mitchell providing a spark off the bench with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Oklahoma City outscored Dallas 39-27 in the quarter. While looking at and reading thode numbers it makes it seem like things didn’t really change.
That’s why watching the game matters. Numbers don’t lie but the sure do mislead and those numbers are a bit misleading. The shots the Mavs hit were a lot tougher and the Thunder made them work.
Their third quarter plus a hot start to the fourth helped Oklahoma City build a lead that ballooned to 22 points.
However, the momentum quickly shifted in the fourth. Oklahoma City took their foot off the gas and the Mavs took full advantage.
The Thunder ball movement stalled, and their offense became stagnant, relying too heavily on isolation. That lack of flow led to a drought that allowed Dallas to surge back with a 22–4 run, cutting the deficit to one. The Mavericks took advantage of Oklahoma City’s lazy possessions, turning missed shots into transition opportunities that reenergized their home crowd.
When it mattered most, though, the Thunder settled back in. Hartenstein, who finished with 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 12 rebounds, delivered the game’s biggest plays, scoring Oklahoma City’s only two field goals over the final eight minutes, including a critical tip-in and a left-handed layup in the final minute.
Gilgeous-Alexander calmly hit two free throws to push the lead back to three on finishing the night with 23 points 4 rebounds, and 8 assists, and Holmgren added two more to seal it in the closing seconds.
One big takeaway from the win, and their start to the season for that matter, is the fact that Mark Daigneault practices what he preaches. He has been adamant about not over coaching this group going back to last season.
That’s easy to say and easy when you’re blowing teams out so bad your starters don’t have to play fourth quarters. A lot tougher when you’re short handed, playing in close games.
Not over coaching played out Monday night and has played out in two of their previous wins proving to his philosophy works no matter the situation.
Aaron Wiggins added 11 points off the bench, while Dort and Cason Wallace each contributed valuable defense and rebounding despite shooting struggles. Ajay Mitchell finished with another great night off the bench with 17 points and 7 rebounds hinting his consistent start to the season.
Oklahoma City shot 46.7% from the field and won the rebounding battle 55–36, making up for a rough 6-of-30 (20%) night from three point range.
The win moves the Thunder to 4–0, showing both their flaws and resilience in a game that demanded composure. Oklahoma City will return home Tuesday to host Sacramento on the second night of a back to back.
