The Thunder, even while shorthanded, dominated the Mavericks behind a suffocating, deeply layered defense and another effortless scoring masterpiece from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Tonight is only the 2nd time Anthony Davis has had 2 or less points in a game (where he didn't get hurt) in his career.
The last time? He as a rookie and it was against the Raptors. Thunder had him in hell tonight lol
— The Daniel Bell© (@BasketballGuruD) December 6, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY – Before the offense found its voice, the Thunder defense spoke first: quiet, certain, and absolutely unforgiving. On a night when their roster felt thin, Oklahoma City’s defense moved like a single breath: steady, inevitable, unbroken.
The Thunder extended their dominant early season run on Friday night, overwhelming the Dallas Mavericks 132-111 to secure their 14th straight win. But while the final score reflects another explosive offensive outing from one of the league’s most efficient attacks, this game was defined, start to finish, by Oklahoma City’s defense. Even with multiple starters sidelined, the Thunder identity didn’t waver. If anything, it was reinforced.
The night began with a bit of an offensive lull for Oklahoma City. Shots that usually fall early weren’t dropping, the spacing felt just slightly off, and the rhythm that often comes naturally for this group took a few possessions to surface.
But what kept the Thunder steady, and what ultimately cracked Dallas open, was the one thing this team seems able to rely on regardless of who is available. Relentless, connected, highly intelligent team defense.
At the point of attack, the Thunder were admittedly shaky in the early minutes. Dallas found a few clean looks in the opening quarter, and Oklahoma City allowed just enough space for the Mavericks to believe they might build a rhythm. But after that first stretch, Oklahoma City tightened every screw.
The switches became sharper. The rotations were earlier. The communication grew louder. And from the second quarter on, Dallas rarely generated the kind of comfortable opportunities they found in the opening frame.
And no possessions embodied the Thunder defensive depth more than the matchup of the night. Anthony Davis vs. Jaylin Williams. Yes, you read that correctly.
On paper, you’d expect the burden to fall on Chet Holmgren or Jalen Williams, two of the Thunder most versatile defenders. But instead it was JWill mostly with Holmgren and JDub shading the matchup. The undersized but endlessly physical Thunder center, who delivered one of the best individual defensive performances of his career.
He walled up without fouling, bodied Davis off his spots, absorbed contact, and forced him into rushed, uncomfortable attempts or passes.
The result? Anthony Davis finished with just 2 points on 1-9 shooting, marking his worst scoring performance since his rookie season (not counting the games where he got hurt in the first quarter). Considering Davis entered the night averaging over 20 per game and is one of the most talented players in the league, the Thunder didn’t just contain him, they erased him.
“It’s not (easy),” Mark Daigneault said when asked about the defensive performance on Davis. “I thought JWill did a great job on him. KRich [Kenrich Williams] did a great job…With him, you have to really fight him for spots. Those guys brought great energy to the matchup, and then it’s a five man defense against a player like him.”
And they did it with a player who isn’t even their normal starting big. It was a vivid example of the kind of defensive depth this roster possesses. On a night without Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, three defensive keystones, Oklahoma City still smothered an opponent that had won three straight.
Once the defense settled fully into its rhythm, the offense followed.
The Thunder opened up the floor, moved the ball with their usual pace and purpose, and began creating the style of shots they thrive on. As the stops piled up, the transition opportunities flowed, and by the time the third quarter hit, the game’s complexion had completely shifted. Oklahoma City outscored Dallas 41-26 in the third period alone, effectively ending the competitive portion of the night.
And at the center of it, once again, was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who continues to make the extraordinary feel routine. With 33 points on just 12 shots, he put together yet another masterclass in scoring efficiency. He got to his spots at will, controlled tempo, manipulated defenders with patience and poise, and rarely looked bothered.
More importantly, this game marked his 95th straight performance with at least 20 points, the second longest streak in NBA history only behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 126 straight.
We may very well be watching one of the most dominant and effortless scoring guards the league has ever seen. Nights like this, 33 points in three quarters, pristine efficiency, and total control, are starting to feel normal for Gilgeous-Alexander.
That alone speaks volumes.
The Thunder are now 22–1, winners of 14 straight, and somehow still discovering new layers of their identity. The offense can explode. The stars can shine. But their foundation, deep, adaptable, unshakeable defense, is what continues to separate them.
Even short handed, they suffocated Dallas, dominated the margins, and reminded the league that stopping them might be the hardest task in basketball right now.
