DALLAS, TX — The Oklahoma City Thunder survived a fierce late rally from the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, securing a 101-94 victory to improve their perfect season start to 4-0. Center Isaiah Hartenstein proved clutch down the stretch, scoring the Thunder’s only two field goals of the final 8:28, finishing the night with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the defending NBA champion and league’s leading scorer entering the game (averaging 40.0 points), led Oklahoma City with 23 points. Rookie phenom Chet Holmgren contributed across the board with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks.
The Thunder appeared to be cruising with a 93-74 lead before Dallas mounted a desperate 13-0 run. Hartenstein ended the drought with a tip-in, and after the Mavericks pulled within one point on a D’Angelo Russell jumper with 54 seconds left, Hartenstein responded with a crucial left-handed layup. Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren sealed the win at the free-throw line in the final moments.
For the Mavericks (1-3), who were playing their fourth straight home game, Anthony Davis led the effort with 26 points and 11 rebounds.
Oklahoma City dominated the interior, outscoring Dallas 68-36 in the paint and crushing them on the boards, 55-36. The Mavericks’ “jumbo” frontcourt was hampered by the absence of center Dereck Lively II (knee contusion).
Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, last summer’s No. 1 draft pick, struggled through the contest after suffering a contact injury to his left shoulder on the game’s first possession. Flagg recorded his lowest scoring output of the season with just two points on 1-of-9 shooting, visibly holding his shoulder throughout the first half.
The Thunder will host the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.
