Thunder End Mavericks' NBA Cup Hopes Behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 39 Points and Stifling Defense
With a trip to Las Vegas for the NBA Cup Semifinals on the line, the Dallas Mavericks (16-9) fell 118-104 to the Oklahoma City Thunder (19-5) at Paycom Center. The Thunder’s defensive execution and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar performance proved insurmountable for Dallas, ending their tournament run.
Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 39 points, shooting 14-of-23 from the field while adding 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. The Thunder superstar admitted he used his team’s elimination from last season’s playoffs as motivation in this matchup.
“They came out the West last year, which means they were the best Western Conference team,” Gilgeous-Alexander said regarding his motivation to beat the Mavericks. “Obviously, we know how good the West is. I respect that. I use the opportunity to get better and to see if I got better and really measure myself… That’s where I want to be at the end of the day. I want to come out the West and win an NBA championship.”
The Thunder dominated the game’s margins, forcing 19 Dallas turnovers and converting them into 36 points while committing only six themselves. Oklahoma City also grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, ensuring second-chance opportunities that stifled the Mavericks’ comeback attempts.
“We didn’t take care of the ball,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said. “They’re the best defensive team in the league for a reason. Number one in deflections, steals—and they did exactly what they’ve been doing all season.”
Off-Night for Dallas Mavericks Superstars
Dallas’ turnovers were particularly costly, but they didn’t get the typical production from their superstars. Luka Dončić committed six turnovers on his own, part of a lackluster performance in which he managed just 16 points on 4-of-12 shooting, including 0-of-4 from beyond the arc. Kyrie Irving added 17 points but failed to reach 20 for the first time in six games.
“Just sloppy passes from me,” Dončić admitted. “I’ve got to take care of the ball. I can’t be having six turnovers. That’s unacceptable on my part.”
The Thunder’s aggressive defensive schemes—blitzing Dončić and Irving while maintaining active hands—set the tone early. Oklahoma City’s ability to create transition opportunities off turnovers gave them a decisive edge.
“They doubled me every time,” Dončić said. “Credit to them—they played great defense. But I’ve got to start better. That was probably one of the worst halves I’ve ever played. I can’t start like that; I’ve got to help my team better.”
With how many talented on-ball defenders the Thunder deploy while funneling superstars into a packed paint, they effectively made it hard for Dončić and Irving to impose their will on the game.
“They do a lot of switching and rely heavily on their defensive stoppers. They’ve got five of them out there on the floor at one time, and I think four of them are in the top ten for individual defensive ratings,” Irving explained. “They’ve taken the challenge this year to prove they’re a team to be reckoned with, and they deserve respect.”
With the Mavericks struggling to make open shots and to make plays on the short roll, Irving felt the offense could have been better about executing against blitzes. The Mavericks will surely review the film and fine-tune their approach for future matchups. However, those aggressive coverages are nothing new.
“I wish we had taken advantage of it more,” Irving admitted. We’ll look at the film, but we’ve been seeing those double teams for the last two years, especially when they start off the game being aggressive on Luka.”
A Strong Start Dissolves
The Mavericks opened the game with an 8-0 run, fueled by Irving’s five quick points and a Klay Thompson three-pointer. However, Gilgeous-Alexander’s relentless attacks sparked a 12-1 Thunder run, giving Oklahoma City a 15-9 lead midway through the first quarter. By the end of the period, Gilgeous-Alexander had tallied 16 points, and the Thunder led 32-24.
“Shai was locked in tonight,” Naji Marshall said. “He hit tough shots, and that’s what great players do. But we’ve got to do better defensively as a team.”
The Mavericks struggled to capitalize on short-roll opportunities created by the Thunder’s double-teams. Sloppy outlet passes and poor spacing led to costly turnovers, and Oklahoma City’s offensive rebounding nullified Dallas’ efforts to slow the game.
“We’ve got to make better decisions when playing in that pocket. We had way too many turnovers, and that limited some of our runs,” Irving detailed. “They clogged the paint and made it tough for us. They did their best to limit me and Luka, and they were successful tonight.”
Second Quarter Push and Halftime Setbacks
Marshall’s energy in his return from a four-game absence caused by illness provided a much-needed boost in the second quarter. He scored 14 first-half points, including timely three-pointers and transition finishes, helping Dallas cut the deficit to 57-54 by halftime. Thompson added three triples to keep the Mavericks within striking distance.
“It was okay,” Marshall said when asked about his performance. “A couple turnovers I want to take back, but it was okay. I feel like I could have done more out there, but at the end of the day, like I said, there’s always the next game.”
But the Thunder’s perimeter shooting and points off turnovers proved pivotal. Oklahoma City hit 11-of-31 threes in the first half, and their 22 points off Dallas’ miscues created an 18-point swing in that category alone.
Despite all of this, including Dončić only having two points while shooting 1-of-7 from the floor with four turnovers at the break, the Mavericks trailed by three at the break. The Slovenian superstar was satisfied with the quality of shots the offense was generated, but admitted it was one of the worst halves he’s ever played.
“I think in the first half, we got the shots we wanted. I think we didn’t play great in the first half, and we were still only down three,” Dončić explained. “I think we were getting good shots, but I’ve got to start better. That was probably one of the worst halves I’ve ever played, and I can’t start like that. I’ve got to help my team better.”
Oklahoma City Thunder Dominates the Second Half
Oklahoma City opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run, extending their lead to 67-56. Gilgeous-Alexander continued to thrive in mid-range, finishing the quarter already with 34 points. About any time the Mavericks scored, Oklahoma City had an answer to stifle a meaningful run. A buzzer-beating three from Isaiah Joe gave the Thunder a commanding 90-73 advantage heading into the final period.
Caruso and Kenrich Williams provided critical defensive stops and timely buckets, complementing Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring. The Thunder’s ability to control the offensive glass—grabbing 17 boards on that end—further stifled any Mavericks rally.
“We’ve seen this type of defense before,” Kidd said. “Unfortunately, we just didn’t handle it tonight. Between turnovers and offensive rebounds, it was too much to overcome.”
Dallas made one final push early in the fourth quarter. Irving hit back-to-back threes, cutting the Thunder’s lead to 97-87 with 8:55 remaining. Marshall’s corner three brought the Mavericks within eight, but Oklahoma City quickly responded with a 7-0 run, including a step-back three from Gilgeous-Alexander and a Caruso-assisted alley-oop to Cason Wallace.
“Putting together runs more consistently and staying poised in transition opportunities or when pushing the pace,” Irving said. “You’ve got to give credit to their defense for stopping us in the backcourt and forcing the ball into situations they wanted.”
Thompson hit consecutive threes late in the quarter to trim the deficit, but Gilgeous-Alexander sealed the game with a short-range jumper and Dort’s dagger three with under two minutes left.
P.J. Washington Was Missed By Dallas Mavericks
While the Thunder didn’t have Chet Holmgren in the lineup, the Mavericks clearly missed P.J. Washington. He was instrumental in the previous matchup with 27 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, helping Dallas get a road victory without Dončić. Dallas is 15-4 when Washington plays this season and 1-5 when he doesn’t.
“P.J. plays a big role for us. Like you said, a lot of times when we lack energy, he’s there to pick us up,” Marshall said. “We definitely missed him today. The way he hits threes, rebounds, and guards—he’s just a big body out there. We hope he gets well and is back soon.”
Marshall and Thompson were bright spots for Dallas, combining for 38 points (19 each), while Daniel Gafford added 10 rebounds. Aside from them, the Mavericks’ perimeter role players did not carry over their recent impressive contributions into this game. Quentin Grimes was held to four points on 1-of-5 shooting with three turnovers. While Spencer Dinwiddie had nine points, three rebounds, four assists, and three steals, he shot just 3-of-9 overall. However, Olivier-Maxence Prosper had a solid performance with six efficient points in the 12 minutes he played.
The Mavericks’ bigs strongly impacted the box score, with Dereck Lively II totaling five points, 13 rebounds, and five assists with a block, and Daniel Gafford adding 9 points and two rebounds. However, the inability to get timely defensive stops and uncharacteristic offensive struggles were surely partly impacted by not having Washington’s versatility to tie the unit together.
“P.J. brings a lot of energy and versatility to our team,” Lively said after Monday’s practice. “He’s out there making plays on both ends, whether it’s knocking down shots, driving, or defending. It’s great to have someone who can do so many different things and step up when we need it.”
Looking Ahead
The Mavericks will now face the loser of the other Western Conference Quarterfinal matchup involving the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors on Sunday. If Houston loses, Dallas will host the game; otherwise, they’ll travel to San Francisco.
“It’s on to the next game,” Kidd said. “Unfortunately, we lost, and the emotions are tough, but we’ve got to move forward.”
Irving views this game as an opportunity for the Mavericks to learn as a group after coming into this matchup on a seven-game winning streak and having won 11 of their previous 12 games. Dallas looks forward to the next matchup on January 17 at the American Airlines Center.
“This was a great learning experience for us,” Irving stated. “Going against the best team in the West right now, we fell short, but we’re 1-1 against them. I’m looking forward to more battles because this is what it’s all about.”
