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Thunder fall to Mavericks 120-96 in Dallas

Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a 120-96 defeat at the American Airlines Center. Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 26 points and 8 assists, while Ajay Mitchell scored 29 for the visitors.

Jules Lowery· AI-assisted, edited by Jake Team

October 29, 20262 min read

basketball court - illustration, Jake Team LLC
NBAFinal
Oklahoma City Thunder96
Dallas Mavericks120

October 28, 2026

Thunder drop road contest in Texas

The Oklahoma City Thunder failed to secure a victory on the road, falling 120-96 to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The contest took place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, where 18,111 spectators witnessed the home team pull away for a decisive win. The result improved the Mavericks' record to 3-2, while the Thunder's record stands at 4-1 after the loss.

Flagg leads home offense

Cooper Flagg was the standout performer for Dallas, contributing 26 points and 8 assists. The Mavericks controlled the scoring from the opening tip, establishing a lead that they maintained throughout the evening. Daniel Gafford provided a strong presence on the glass for the home squad, recording 11 rebounds to support the offensive effort.

The team's balanced attack allowed them to outscore the visitors in every single quarter, preventing any significant momentum shifts in favor of Oklahoma City.

Mitchell leads Thunder scoring

For the visiting Thunder, Ajay Mitchell carried the offensive load with 29 points. However, the team struggled to contain the Mavericks' pace and efficiency. Jared McCain contributed 4 assists, while Isaiah Hartenstein led the team in rebounding with 14 boards.

Despite these individual efforts, the Thunder were unable to close the gap against a well-executed home performance. The defensive breakdowns and offensive inconsistencies ultimately proved costly in the second half.

Quarter-by-quarter breakdown

The Mavericks outscored the Thunder in all four periods. In the first quarter, Dallas led 33-30. The home team extended their advantage in the second quarter, winning the period 32-29 to take a 65-59 lead into halftime.

The third quarter saw the Mavericks pull further ahead, outscoring Oklahoma City 29-22. They finished strong in the fourth quarter, winning the period 26-15 to secure the 120-96 final result. The consistent quarter-by-quarter dominance highlighted the difference in execution between the two teams on the night.

Sources

ESPN

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Jules Lowery· AI-assisted, edited by Jake Team

Jules Lowery covers College Station high school and area college sports.

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