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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Thunder Take First Loss of the Season, 120-96 in Dallas as Flagg Scores 26

Cooper Flagg scored 26 points and eight Dallas players reached double figures as the Mavericks beat the short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder 120-96 at American Airlines Center on Wednesday night, ending Oklahoma City's 4-0 start.

By Orbit Post2 min read
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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Thunder Take First Loss of the Season, 120-96 in Dallas as Flagg Scores 26

Key points

  • Ajay Mitchell scored 29 points, but the Oklahoma City Thunder took their first loss of the season on Wednesday night, falling 120-96 to the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
  • Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 26 points and eight assists.
  • Oklahoma City played without six players.

Ajay Mitchell scored 29 points, but the Oklahoma City Thunder took their first loss of the season on Wednesday night, falling 120-96 to the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Oklahoma City is now 4-1. Dallas improved to 3-2.

Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 26 points and eight assists. The Mavericks led 33-30 after one quarter and 65-59 at halftime, then won the third quarter 29-22 and the fourth 26-15 to close the game out. Eight Mavericks scored in double figures, and Dallas finished with 30 assists to 17 for Oklahoma City.

A short-handed roster

Oklahoma City played without six players. Chet Holmgren missed a second straight game with right knee patellar tendinitis. Jalen Williams is out with a fractured fibula and a dislocated left ankle, and the team announced on Wednesday that he will be re-evaluated at the end of the regular season. Cason Wallace, who grew up in the Dallas area, watched in a sling after tearing the labrum in his left shoulder against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. His timeline will be set after surgery. Alex Caruso (right ankle sprain), Nikola Topic (low back surgery) and Thomas Sorber (right knee surgery) were also out.

Without its best perimeter defenders, Oklahoma City had no steady answer for Flagg or Kyrie Irving. Flagg scored 12 points in the first quarter and finished 10 for 23 from the field. Irving, who had been questionable before the game, added 15 points.

Dallas coach Dusty May, who coached Thunder rookie Aday Mara at Michigan, put his support for Mara on hold for one night. "After tonight, I hope he continues to play incredibly well," May said before the game. Mara recorded six points, three rebounds and two blocks in 20 minutes for Oklahoma City.

Mitchell carries the scoring

Mitchell made his second straight start and followed his career-high 30 points against Phoenix on Monday with 29 points on 12 of 20 shooting, with four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 21 points and six rebounds on 7 of 19 shooting, and Dallas crowded him all night with help defenders. Isaiah Hartenstein had 10 points and 14 rebounds, and Jared McCain scored 10.

P.J. Washington had 18 points and nine rebounds for Dallas. Zaccharie Risacher scored 13, Max Christie 11, and Marcus Sasser, Morez Johnson Jr. and Caleb Martin scored 10 each. Daniel Gafford grabbed 11 rebounds.

A record run ends

Oklahoma City had opened 4-0 for a third straight season, only the second team in league history to do that, and a win would have made the Thunder the first team to start 5-0 in three straight seasons. Dallas, meanwhile, is above .500 for the first time since March 6, 2025.

Oklahoma City plays at Houston, which is 5-0, at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. Dallas plays Houston on Friday night.

Timeline

  1. Oct 25, 2026Oklahoma City beats the Los Angeles Clippers 108-101, but Cason Wallace tears the labrum in his left shoulder and Jalen Williams is injured in the same game.
  2. Oct 26, 2026The Thunder beat the Phoenix Suns 125-114 in Oklahoma City, with Ajay Mitchell scoring a career-high 30 points.
  3. Oct 28, 2026Oklahoma City announces Jalen Williams will be re-evaluated at the end of the regular season, and that Cason Wallace's timeline will be set after surgery.
  4. Oct 28, 2026Dallas beats Oklahoma City 120-96 at American Airlines Center. Cooper Flagg scores 26 points and Ajay Mitchell leads the Thunder with 29.

Sources