Nearly a 22-point comeback! Alexander scores 23+8, top pick hits 1 of 9 for just 2 points, Thunder narrowly defeat Mavericks

On October 28th Beijing time, the Mavericks played host to the Thunder. Both sides looked worn out and shot poorly throughout. In the end, the Thunder eked out a 101-94 victory over the Mavericks. Thunder’s Alexander tallied 23 points, 3 boards, and 8 assists; Holmgren had 18 points and 11 rebounds; Mitchell scored 17 points with 7 rebounds. On the Mavericks’ side, Davis recorded 26 points and 11 rebounds, Washington had 15 points and 9 rebounds, and Christie contributed 14 points. The number one pick, Flagg, played 30 minutes but shot 1-for-9, scoring only 2 points.

At the start of the first quarter, Dort, Alexander, and Holmgren took turns scoring, sparking a 7-0 run to take the lead. After Davis broke the deadlock with a mid-range jumper for the Mavericks, others still struggled to find their rhythm. Just as the gap was about to reach double digits, Clay hit a three-pointer that seemed to wake up the Mavericks. Christie and Russell followed with consecutive outside shots, quickly closing the deficit. The first quarter ended with the Mavericks trailing the Thunder 24-28.

In the second quarter, both teams’ shooting percentages dropped further, and it took two minutes before Marshall’s layup broke the scoreless streak. After a series of missed shots by the Mavericks, the Thunder quietly extended their lead. Aside from Davis scoring in double figures with 15 points by halftime, no other Maverick reached double digits. Flagg’s shooting was particularly poor, making just 1 of 6 attempts, while Clay only made the one three-pointer from the first quarter, finishing 1-for-6 at halftime. Although no Thunder player scored in double digits, their scoring was more balanced. Surprisingly, despite the Thunder’s usual high number of free throws, they only earned two attempts in the first half and missed both, while the Mavericks made 7 of 12 free throws. The quarter ended with the Thunder leading 48-42 after a chaotic, scoreless scramble from both sides.

In the second half, Davis scored on a one-on-one against Haltenstein. Alexander immediately answered with two points over Flagg, and Clay hit a three-pointer to help his teammates regain momentum. Holmgren then stabilized the Thunder’s lead with free throws and a dunk, while Alexander’s consecutive drives pushed the lead to double digits, forcing the Mavericks to call a timeout. Holmgren shook off Flagg to nail a three-pointer, but the Mavericks continued to struggle shooting. Wiggins scored on a floater as the Thunder’s lead grew beyond 20 points. If this continued, Kidd’s coaching position might be at risk. Towards the end of the quarter, Washington and Hardy managed to recover some pride. After three quarters, the Thunder led the Mavericks 87-69.

In the final quarter, Washington and Hardy continued to score, and Christie added another three-pointer. The Mavericks kept chipping away, prompting the Thunder to call a timeout. After the break, Washington and Christie fired consecutive shots that cut the gap to single digits, reigniting the game’s suspense. With the difference down to 4 points, the Mavericks suddenly went cold on offense. Haltenstein’s putback gave the Thunder a bit of breathing room. However, Davis responded with a 2+1, continuing the comeback. With one minute left and the Thunder still not scoring double digits in the quarter, Russell’s floater reduced the deficit to just one point. Could the Mavericks complete a huge comeback? Haltenstein blocked Davis to stop the bleeding, and Alexander along with Holmgren sealed the victory with free throws. The Thunder narrowly won 101-94 over the Mavericks.

Mavericks starters: Clay, Washington, Davis, Christie, Flagg

Thunder starters: Dort, Holmgren, Haltenstein, Wallace, Alexander