Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Thunder to 14th Straight Win Over Mavericks

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered a standout performance, scoring 33 points in just three quarters to guide the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 132-111 home victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. This win marked the Thunder’s 14th consecutive victory and their 22nd in 23 games to commence the season.

Gilgeous-Alexander exhibited remarkable efficiency, shooting 10-of-12 from the field while contributing six assists and five rebounds. The reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) was especially impactful in the third quarter, where he scored 16 points as the Thunder decisively pulled away.

The Mavericks’ bid to extend their winning streak to four games was halted. Jaden Hardy led Dallas off the bench with 23 points, including 12 in the third quarter. Naji Marshall added 18 points, and Cooper Flagg chipped in 16.

Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault made a strategic adjustment by starting Jalen Williams to shadow Dallas’s Anthony Davis. Williams effectively contained Davis, holding the star big man scoreless through three quarters. Davis finished with only two points on 1-of-9 shooting.

The Thunder closed the first half on a strong note, scoring on their last 10 possessions and mounting a 20-8 run to establish a 15-point halftime lead. They built on that momentum in the third quarter, opening with a 23-7 surge that extended their advantage to 31 points.

Though the Mavericks responded with an 11-point run during the third quarter, they could not narrow the deficit beyond 20 points.

A tense moment occurred midway through the third when Davis injured his left knee following a collision with Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren. After briefly exiting, Davis returned for the fourth quarter, but the contest was well out of reach by then.

Davis’s offensive struggles persisted into the fourth quarter, as he missed his first eight shots and two free throws before finally scoring on a layup four minutes into the period. He exited the game shortly after.

Jalen Williams and Holmgren each contributed 15 points for the Thunder, who shot an impressive 56% from the field. Oklahoma City dominated the paint, outscoring Dallas 62-38, and capitalized on turnovers by generating 18 points off 12 Mavericks miscues while committing only six turnovers themselves.

The Thunder achieved this victory despite missing key players Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort, Alex Caruso, and Isaiah Joe, underscoring the depth and resilience of the squad as they continue to impress early in the NBA season.