Anthony Davis struggled as the Mavericks’ win streak ended in a 132-111 loss to the Thunder, highlighted by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 33 points.
OKLAHOMA CITY — The moment Anthony Davis’ first-half drought crescendoed into a missed pair of free throws and a Chet Holmgren rejection at the buzzer, it became clear the Mavericks were in for a long night in Oklahoma City.
Dallas’ three-game winning streak evaporated Friday in a 132-111 loss at Paycom Center, a matchup that exposed how slim the margin for error becomes against the NBA’s most disciplined defense.
The Mavericks were competitive early, trailing just 49-45 late in the second quarter. But the game unraveled quickly. Oklahoma City closed the half on a 20-8 avalanche—scoring on its final 10 possessions—and opened the third with another burst that ballooned the gap to more than 30. By the time the fourth quarter began, any drama was reduced to whether Davis would score.
He did, but not until the 8:08 mark of the final period, slipping in a reverse layup after missing his first eight shots and a pair of free throws. He finished with two points in 24 minutes, marking his lowest-scoring game since going scoreless last Christmas with the Lakers.
Davis said the night required quick compartmentalizing with the second leg of a back-to-back less than a day away.
After shedding the ice wraps from his knees postgame, he explained that his focus had already shifted.
“I hold myself accountable for the play, but we don’t have time — I don’t have time — to dwell on it,” Davis said. “We have a 24-hour turnaround and we play tomorrow. Gotta get prepared for tomorrow.”
That he finished the game at all was briefly in doubt. With 6:35 left in the third quarter, Davis banged knees with Holmgren and collapsed, clutching his left leg as the Thunder scored in transition. He later returned, and despite the scare, Davis said his knee is “fine” and he intends to play Saturday against Houston.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said the Thunder’s defensive commitment—packed paint, early doubles, constant help—dictated much of the night for Dallas’ offense and Davis’ shot diet.
“We knew the paint would be packed,” Kidd said. “AD’s ability to score was limited due to that and his teammates gotta step up. We just didn’t score there. I think we made a lot of the right plays. We just missed shots or we turned it over. We gotta look at how we can get him better looks, even with the double teams.”
Oklahoma City, now an absurd 22-1, didn’t need a full-strength rotation to dominate. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dismantled Dallas’ defense with 33 points on only 12 shot attempts, including 11-of-12 at the line. He scored 16 in the third alone, extending his streak of 20-point games to 96 and prompting praise from Kidd about the MVP’s reliability.
“He’s been Mr. Consistent,” Kidd said. “Great players figure out how to do it and he’s figured out how to do it.”
Holmgren added 15 points and eight rebounds, while Jalen Williams matched him with 15. The Thunder shot 56% from the field, outscored Dallas 62-38 in the paint, and committed only six turnovers.
By contrast, Dallas was shorthanded and overwhelmed. With P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively II all sidelined, the Mavericks were outmuscled on the glass 43-35 and outmaneuvered inside. Naji Marshall, starting again in Washington’s place, led Dallas’ starters with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Rookie Cooper Flagg added 16 points, and Ryan Nembhard had 10.
Jaden Hardy delivered Dallas’ brightest offensive stretch, scoring 23 points—12 of them in a lively third quarter—but it did little to shift the night’s trajectory.
The Mavericks fell to 8-16, their hard-earned momentum halted almost as soon as it started. But the schedule offers an immediate test of resilience. Houston, the league’s fourth-ranked defense, visits American Airlines Center on Saturday.
And despite the bruising, the Mavericks will at least bring Davis with them.
“I’m planning on playing tomorrow,” he said. “We don’t have time to dwell on it.”
The Thunder might be clicking. Dallas, after Friday, is hoping it can start doing the same again.