DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks handed Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and his team only its second loss in 21 games, overcoming a 20-point deficit in a chippy, hard-fought contest that came down to the wire. The Thunder competed without All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was a late scratch due to soreness in his right wrist before tip-off. However, Oklahoma City clawed back from a 41-17 second quarter, punching back with a 33-14 second-half start before succumbing to a 106-98 loss.
After the game, Daigneault commended his team for erasing its 20-point deficit and competing at a high level.
“Obviously, [they] did a really good job out of halftime,” Daigneault said. “After what was a rough second quarter, or end of the second quarter, I thought we played a pretty good game outside of that six-minute stretch where they really opened the game up. But we came out of halftime, made that a game, and got it within striking distance very quickly. And able to take a one-point game into the fourth, which, with where we were at halftime, is all you can ask for.”
Jalen Williams’ fadeaway jumper knotted the game at 83 with 8:29 left to play, which was the closest the Thunder came to pulling ahead in the final frame. After Lu Dort connected on a three to pull Oklahoma City to within one (92-91) with under five minutes left, Dallas closed the game by outscoring its opponent 14-7.
“I thought they out-executed us down the stretch on both ends,” Daigneault added. “But we put ourselves in a position to try to win the game, which is all you can ask for when you’re down by 20 at one point. So, certainly, things we can learn from. But I didn’t think it was an inexperience thing. I thought it was an execution thing.”
Jalen Williams’ 19 points led five Thunder players in double figures, including Lu Dort (18 points), Jaylin Williams and Aaron Wiggins, who finished with a dozen each, and Cason Wallace (10 points). Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 25 points, PJ Washington and Spencer Dinwiddie finished with 16 points, and Naji Marshall recorded a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ruled out for Thunder-Mavericks game
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
After Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led a 30-2 run in a 136-116 blowout win against the Cavs, he suffered a sore wrist before facing the Mavericks. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault announced Gilgeous-Alexander as questionable before the team ruled him out officially before tip-off.
“He’s got a sore right wrist,” Daigneault said. “He was fine this morning. Then, he came to the arena and was a little bit sore.”
The Thunder will head back home for Sunday’s matchup against the Nets.
Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. Josue got his start as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com. He grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media, where he is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.
