Flagg Scores 26 and Mavericks Hand Thunder Their First Loss, 120-96, in Irving's Home Return

By The Arena Staff

DALLAS, Oct. 28, 2026 — The Oklahoma City Thunder came to Dallas without a loss this season and without a loss in October since 2023. They left with both streaks over.

Cooper Flagg scored 26 points with eight assists, five rebounds and no turnovers, and the Dallas Mavericks routed the Thunder 120-96 on Wednesday night. Oklahoma City (4-1) had won 15 straight games in October, a run that dated to Oct. 29, 2023, according to 96.7 The Ticket.

Flagg did all of his scoring in the first three quarters and watched most of the fourth with the game long decided. Dallas led by as many as 27 in the final period. P.J. Washington added 18 points.

The night also belonged to Kyrie Irving. Playing his first regular-season home game since tearing his ACL on March 3, 2025, Irving made his first four shots and scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half.

Dallas (3-2) is over .500 for the first time since Flagg arrived, and coach Dusty May has his first home win. The Mavericks did it from deep, making a season-best 16 of 45 3-pointers, while the Thunder went 5 for 32. Even Daniel Gafford got one. The center hit the first 3-pointer of his career, in his eighth season, on the 2,384th shot he has taken in the NBA.

The Mavericks won the bench battle 43-19 and outscored Oklahoma City 17-0 on fast breaks.

The Thunder were missing four regulars: Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso. Ajay Mitchell led them with 29 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 on 7-for-19 shooting.

Both teams play Houston next.

Sources: AP, CBS Sports, NBA.com and 96.7 The Ticket.