Ajay Mitchell poured in 29 points in a standout performance, but a severely shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder squad dropped a 120-96 decision to the Dallas Mavericks. Playing without several key players, the visiting Thunder ran into a balanced Dallas attack led by Cooper Flagg, handing the Thunder their first loss of the season.
Roster Depletion Tests Oklahoma City Depth in Texas
The Thunder arrived in Dallas facing a daunting injury crisis that forced major adjustments to the rotation. Oklahoma City played without Jalen Williams due to a broken leg and Cason Wallace, who is sidelined with a labrum tear, with both players facing lengthy absences. The visiting side also missed Chet Holmgren due to a knee injury and Alex Caruso because of an ankle sprain.
Despite the absence of several starters, the roster crunch completely liberated Ajay Mitchell. Just days after setting a new career high with 30 points, the Belgian guard followed up with another brilliant display, shooting 12-of-20 from the floor, including 2-of-5 from three-point range, across 27 minutes of action. Mitchell added four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block while operating as a primary focal point of the offense.
Mavericks Overwhelm Visitors Behind Cooper Flagg and Balanced Scoring
While Mitchell shouldered the offensive load for Oklahoma City, the rest of the Thunder unit struggled to find a rhythm against the Mavericks’ defense. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander managed 21 points on 7-of-19 shooting alongside six rebounds, while Jared McCain contributed 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting, and Josh Dix added two points on 1-of-8 shooting.
Ajay was active on defense 🤲 Career-high 5 steals tonight pic.twitter.com/h2LJe1kwCI
Dallas capitalized on the visitors’ shooting struggles by putting eight players in double figures. Cooper Flagg anchored the effort for the hosts with 26 points, eight assists, and five rebounds. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving marked a milestone in his recovery by scoring 15 points and dishing four assists in his first home appearance since suffering a torn left anterior cruciate ligament in March 2025.
Thunder Coach Praises Mitchell’s Steady Approach Amid Expanded Role
The sudden shift in status has done little to alter the guard’s daily routine or court demeanor, according to his coach. The coach emphasized Mitchell’s consistent work ethic following another high-volume scoring night where a second-round draft pick attempted 20 shots.
“He is stayed the same since the moment he walked in here,” the coach said. “He is a hard worker. He shows great consistency and a steady personality. He simply keeps his head down and does everything the team needs to help us win.”
Western Conference Standings Shift as Unbeaten Teams Stand Alone
Following the 120-96 defeat, the Thunder sit fifth in the Western Conference standings with a 4-1 record, tied with the Los Angeles Lakers. Dallas climbed to seventh place at 3-2. Only three teams remain undefeated in the NBA: Houston at 5-0, Memphis at 4-0, and the Portland Trail Blazers, featuring Toumani Camara, at 3-0.
In other league action on the same night, Nikola Jokic notched his 200th career triple-double, posting 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists in a 104-91 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans. Jokic, in his 12th NBA season, stands as only the second player in league history to reach the milestone, trailing retired leader Russell Westbrook, who finished his 18-season career with 209 triple-doubles.
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