DALLAS --The Mavericks’ week spiraled from bad to worse Wednesday night.
Dallas lost 120-114 in overtime to Oklahoma City -- who entered American Airlines Center with just 15 wins in 49 games -- days after losing Sunday to a 10-win Orlando team, the NBA’s worst.
The luster of a dominant January run? Now dull.
The joy of a defensive renaissance? Now absent.
The relief when Reggie Bullock hit a 3-pointer with 9.6 seconds remaining to give the Mavericks a 103-101? Negated by a Thunder layup on the next possession to force overtime.
After the Thunder outscored them 17-11 in overtime, the Mavericks quickly exited the court after the final buzzer in opener of their season-long, six-game homestand.
Luka Doncic finished with 40 points, six rebounds and 10 assists in 43 minutes. He shot 16 of 33 from the field and 5 of 12 from three.
Doncic twice cut the Mavericks’ deficit -- which reached 12 points after the first possession of the fourth quarter -- to one point in the last two minutes of regulation. First, he sank a 3-pointer from his sweet spot on the left wing and on the next offensive possession, he tallied a soft-touch layup.
That positioned Reggie Bullock to give the Mavericks temporary hope of an upset score, as Bullock’s corner 3-pointer took a bounce off the rim and fell through.
On the Thunder’s look out of the ensuing timeout, Kenrich Williams beat Doncic on a cut for a layup with 7.5 seconds remaining, tying the game at 103..
But Doncic appeared primed to respond on the final possession. He dribbled the ball to the left wing, where he’s proven so clutch in his three-plus seasons with Dallas, but his high-arching attempt clanged off the rim, just off to the right, with 0.1 seconds remaining in regulation.
Oklahoma City started overtime on an 7-2 run and Dallas never threatened late.
The Mavericks played shorthanded in their fourth game against Oklahoma City since Dec. 12.
Kristaps Porizngis missed a second consecutive game with a right knee bone bruise he suffered Saturday night against Indiana. He watched the Mavericks’ rebounding struggles from the bench in a suit, but Kidd before the game was optimistic about his progress.
“Seeing him, he looks good,” Kidd said. “His spirit is good. He’s working out, so hopefully he can get back soon.”
Kidd also felt more confident about Sterling Brown, who missed his eighth consecutive game with left foot soreness Wednesday but had advanced to non-contact work during Tuesday’s practice.
Tim Hardaway Jr., meanwhile, gave his coach good news before tipoff.
Hardaway underwent surgery to repair the fracture to his fifth metatarsal in his left foot Tuesday in Indianapolis, and he was cleared to fly back to Dallas on Wednesday. Kidd texted with him before the game.
Hardaway had been responsible for the final moment of heroics in the Mavericks’ last victory over the Thunder, Jan. 17 when he stole Oklahoma City’s final inbound play to seal the 104-102 win.
Their absences loomed large in the Mavericks’ hopes to sweep the four-game regular-season series against the Thunder.
Doncic took a third of the Mavericks’ 98 total field-goal attempts. Dallas finished 14 of 43 from three, including a combined 5 of 16 during the fourth quarter and overtime.
In the two days since their loss to lottery-bound Orlando, the Mavericks had capitalized on a day off Monday and a defensive-minded practice Tuesday. During what Brunson called the “reset” workout on the AAC practice court, the Mavericks ran several drills in hopes of re-establishing the defensive tenacity and communication that helped the unit lead the league in January.
In one portion, the coaching staff divided players into three teams, but gave just one group instructions on how to run the drill. The other two had to work together mid-action to figure out how to stop it.
The Mavericks appeared re-freshed and re-energized while shooting individually at the end of the practice, just one of a handful they’ve held since their COVID-19 issues started in mid-December.
But come Wednesday night, their shortcomings resurfaced.
The Thunder scored 30 points in the first quarter to open an early lead and added another 34 in the third. They dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Mavericks 50-39, including 14 offensive rebounds for 22 second-chance points.
The homestand opener featured a half-full American Airlines Center crowd, one much less raucous than in recent big games against Indiana, Memphis and Phoenix.
Many likely stayed home with winter weather incoming and schools and businesses closing.
The Mavericks will do the same Thursday.
“The weather does mess with us a little bit here [and] we won’t practice,” Kidd said. “Basketball school is closed. Recess will start on Friday.”
