Mavericks Defeat Thunder As Gilgeous-Alexander Sits Out

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, center top, and Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford, bottom, tussle for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in

The Dallas Mavericks secured a 106-98 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in a thrilling matchup on Friday night. Kyrie Irving led the charge for the Mavericks with 25 points, supported by Spencer Dinwiddie and P.J. Washington Jr. who contributed 16 points each.

The absence of Thunder's star player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, due to a sprained wrist, was felt as he missed his first game of the season. Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA's leading scorer with a 31.6 average, was unable to take the court, following his impressive 40-point performance in the previous game against Cleveland.

The Mavericks, who had been on a three-game losing streak, bounced back with a strong performance. They dominated the second period, outscoring the Thunder 41-17, with a significant contribution from points off turnovers.

Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed the game due to injury.

Kyrie Irving scored 25 points for the Mavericks.

Mavericks broke a three-game losing streak with this win.

Mavericks dominated the second period with a 41-17 score.

Thunder made a comeback in the third quarter but fell short.

Jalen Williams led Thunder with 19 points, Lu Dort added 18.

Thunder had no 20-point scorer in this game for the first time.

Mavericks played without Dereck Lively II and had two injuries.

Key moment: Irving's rebound and Dinwiddie's 3-pointer sealed the win.

Mavericks made history by defeating Thunder twice this season without Luka Doncic.

Although the Thunder mounted a comeback in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to just one point, the Mavericks held their ground and closed out the game with a solid performance in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Thunder 29-22.

Jalen Williams led the scoring for the Thunder with 19 points, while Lu Dort added 18 points to their tally.

Key Takeaways

Thunder: This game marked the first time this season that the Thunder did not have a 20-point scorer.

Mavericks: The Mavericks were without Dereck Lively II for the second consecutive game due to a sprained ankle. Additionally, Jaden Hardy and Dwight Powell suffered injuries during the game, adding to the Mavericks' injury list.

Key Moment

With the Thunder trailing 98-93 and 1:20 left on the clock, a crucial play unfolded as Kyrie Irving secured a rebound and Dinwiddie sank a pivotal 3-pointer, extending the Mavericks' lead to eight points.

Key Stat

The Mavericks made history by becoming the first team to defeat the Thunder twice this season. Notably, both victories were achieved without All-Star Luka Doncic, who has been sidelined for 20 games due to various injuries, including a calf strain since Christmas.

Upcoming Games

The Thunder will kick off a three-game homestand against Brooklyn on Sunday, while the Mavericks are set to face Charlotte on Monday.

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