Mavs Topple Thunder

The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-96 Saturday night at the American Airlines Center.

DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 10: Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic (77) goes to the basket during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder on November 10, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/DFWsportsonline)Mavericks rookie guard/forward Luka Dončić produced a game-high 22 points (9-15 FGs, 1-4 3FGs, 3-4 FTs) to go along with six rebounds, a career-high (game-high) eight assists and one steal in 31 minutes. Dončić, who had a team-high 23 points vs. Washington (11/3) and a game-high 24 points at Utah (11/7), led Dallas in scoring for the third straight game. He scored 20-plus in three consecutive games for the first time in his career. Dončić also tallied 20-plus for the seventh time in his first 12 career games. The 19-year-old Slovenian joined Kyrie Irving (7 in 2011-12) as the only teenagers in NBA history to score 20-plus points in seven of their first 12 career contests. Dončić has now scored 244 points through his first 12 career games – the most by a teenager in his first 12 career games in NBA history (previous most: 233 by Dajuan Wagner in 2002-03).  Dončić is averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game through his first 12 career games. The only rookies in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists per game for a full season are: Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor, Sidney Wicks and Larry Bird.

Mavericks guard J.J. Barea tallied a season-high 21 points (8-14 FGs, 3-4 3FGs, 2-2 FTs), including 11 in the first quarter, to go along with three rebounds, five assists and one steal in 31 minutes. Barea, whose previous high-scoring game this season was 15 points at the L.A. Lakers (10/31), had 16 points in the first half alone against the Thunder. The Mavericks were 4-1 last season when Barea scored 20-plus points.

Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith recorded 11 points and six boards in 25 minutes off the bench. He scored 11-plus points for the third time in his last four games (fifth time this season).

Mavericks center DeAndre Jordan finished with a team-high nine boards in 28 minutes. He saw his franchise-record streak of 11 consecutive double-digit rebounding games to begin the season come to an end. The previous team record for consecutive 10-rebound games to begin a year was six, shared by Roy Tarpley (1989-90) and A.C. Green (1997-98).

Thunder forward Paul George and Thunder center Steven Adams each finished with exactly 20 points and 13 rebounds on the night. George added a team-high six assists and two steals, but also finished with a game-high five turnovers in 38 minutes.

The Mavericks shot a season-high 55.8 percent from the field. Dallas improved to 2-1 this season when it shoots at least 50 percent from the floor.

With the victory, the Mavericks snapped the Thunder’s seven-game win streak, which was the longest active win streak in the NBA. Dallas improved to 4-2 at home this season.

Dallas’ bench outscored Oklahoma City’s bench, 53-22. It was the most bench-points the Mavericks have produced in a game this season (previous: 46 vs. Minnesota 10/20).

The Mavericks donned their 2018-19 City Edition jerseys for the first time tonight. The jerseys embody the pride of the City of Dallas.

Dirk Nowitzki, who has been recovering from left ankle surgery, remained out for Dallas. Russell Westbrook (left ankle sprain) and Andre Roberson (left patellar tendon) missed the game for Oklahoma City due to injury.

The attendance for Saturday’s game was 19,818. The Mavericks have now sold out 684 consecutive regular-season home games, which is an NBA-best sellout streak. The streak began on 12/15/01 and Dallas has sold out an additional 67 playoff games during that same stretch.

 

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