The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a notable victory against the Dallas Mavericks with a 126-119 scoreline during Thursday’s NBA action. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played a pivotal role in this achievement, amassing 31 points and nine rebounds.
The Mavericks were at a significant disadvantage, missing the prowess of Luka Doncic due to a sore left hamstring. His absence was particularly felt following his early exit in a previous game, which abruptly ended a remarkable run.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said before the game that an MRI on the NBA scoring leader’s injury turned up “clean,” meaning it likely will be a short-term issue. Kidd said Doncic will be re-evaluated when the team returns home.
Jalen Williams made a noteworthy comeback for the Thunder, contributing 27 points after a brief hiatus due to injury. Gilgeous-Alexander commented on Williams’ performance, expressing his confidence in his teammate’s abilities.
“He’s getting more comfortable every night,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Williams. “He’s seeing different types of defenses. Kid works hard, and as he gets reps, he just continues to keep getting better. That’s what I expect.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks Updates
Williams also stood out on the defensive end, highlighted by his impressive block against Kyrie Irving, demonstrating his versatility on the court.
The Thunder’s strategic gameplay was emphasized by Coach Mark Daigneault, who praised the team’s ability to bounce back from a previous loss with improved cohesion and movement on the court.
“I thought we really moved it,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “It was a good response to the Indiana game where I thought we, for whatever reason, we couldn’t establish a great rhythm in the game. And that’s the sort of thing we want to get back on track very quickly. We can’t control whether or not the ball goes in, but we can control how we play. And I thought offensively, how we played tonight had great integrity to it.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks Updates
Despite the Mavericks’ efforts, led by Kyrie Irving’s 36 points and a season-high 12 assists, they couldn’t overcome the Thunder’s dominance. Daniel Gafford‘s performance was also noteworthy, although he narrowly missed setting a new record for consecutive made field goals.
“The streak is very impressive,” Kidd said. “When you’re talking about the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, not too many people are in that air.”
The competitive nature of the game did not escape Kidd’s notice, who reflected on the intensity and challenges of playing at such a high level in the NBA.
“The NBA is all about – the best teams are going to compete at this time of year,” Kidd said. “Both teams are fighting for something. And so, I thought it was a competitive game. There’s going to be some missed calls, and that’s just part of the NBA. But you’ve got to play through it.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks Updates
As the season progresses, the stakes continue to rise, with both teams eagerly anticipating their next matchups to secure their positions for the playoffs.
