dallasnews
The Dallas Mavericks seized the opportunity to face an undefeated but shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder team, which was missing Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace due to long-term injuries. Behind the dynamic play of Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks cruised to a 120-96 win on Wednesday night.
With the victory, Dallas improved to 3-2, moving above .500 for the first time since March 5, 2025, when they held a 32-31 record. The game also marked Irving's regular-season home debut, which had been delayed after he rested during the home opener.
Irving's Emotional Return
It had been over 600 days since Irving tore his ACL on the same court, making his return highly anticipated. He received a tempered ovation in the preseason, but Wednesday's nationally-televised game allowed a sold-out crowd to shower him with applause and cheers. Irving fed off the energy and continued his productive play, using his prolific 3-point shooting to ease back into form. He made three 3-pointers in the first half, accounting for most of his 13 points in the opening two quarters. Entering the game, he was averaging 8.3 3-point attempts per game, tied for the most in his career since the 2022-23 season. The Mavericks don't need Irving to drive to the basket as much as before his injury, thanks to the youthful presence of Flagg. As long as Irving can create advantages with his handle and spread the floor, he'll be the perfect co-star for the 19-year-old budding superstar.
Flagg Goes Toe-to-Toe with MVP
Cooper Flagg entered Wednesday's game coming off an MVP-esque performance against the Miami Heat, where he went toe-to-toe with Giannis Antetokounmpo. He then matched up against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA's MVP for the last two years. In his first career game against the Thunder on Oct. 27, 2025, Flagg was held to two points. On Wednesday, he flirted with another triple-double, scoring 16 points in the first half—his most in an opening half this season. The second-year forward is stuffing the stat sheet nightly, averaging 25 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists entering the night. He's inching closer to his first career triple-double, which could come sooner rather than later. Elite production in those three areas is typically reserved for MVP candidates, and while it's still early, Flagg is looking more and more like he could hoist that trophy one day.
Michigan Big Men Battle
Wednesday marked the first NBA meeting between Morez Johnson Jr., the No. 9 overall pick, and his college teammate Aday Mara, whom the Thunder drafted with the 12th pick. Both big men starred in the same frontcourt at Michigan but came off the bench for their respective pro teams. Johnson had the best game of his rookie season, scoring inside the paint, rebounding, and dishing out a few assists. Mara made his presence felt by deterring shots inside the paint; he didn't have many field goals, but his most impressive was a reverse alley-oop. However, Johnson had the edge in both individual and team success this time around.
Gafford's First Triple
Daniel Gafford is eight years into his NBA career, but that didn't stop him from experiencing a first-time moment. The Mavericks center connected on his first career regular-season 3-pointer during the first quarter of Wednesday's game. Gafford set a screen for Flagg and relocated to the corner in front of the Mavericks' bench. Upon receiving the ball back, he checked his feet and launched a triple that went through the net. Gafford had only attempted one 3-point shot in his career—a heave at the end of the first quarter when he was with the Washington Wizards. This attempt was more significant because it was intentional. He offered a preview of his 3-point shooting in Macao, China, connecting from the top of the key. It hasn't been a primary or even secondary part of the Mavericks' gameplan, but it's a good sign to see the big man expand his range for versatility.
The NBA Changes Fast
The Mavericks and Thunder met in the Western Conference semifinals two years ago. Since then, the Thunder won a championship, and Dallas completely overhauled its organization from top to bottom, with only four players remaining from that six-game series. The matchup doesn't have the same allure as in the past, but the games remain highly entertaining and competitive due to the star power involved. Could Dallas return to contender status while the Thunder are still among the league's best? Perhaps it's too soon to tell, but Wednesday's victory was a start.
Originally reported by dallasnews.