Spencer Dinwiddie scored 28 points and Kyrie Irving added 24 points as the visiting Dallas Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-115 on Thursday.
P.J. Washington added 22 points and 19 rebounds as Dallas shot 52.7 percent from the floor. Daniel Gafford tallied 12 points and Olivier-Maxence Prosper chipped in 14 points off the bench for the Mavericks, who finished 3-1 this season against the West-leading Thunder.
Jalen Williams led Oklahoma City with 33 points and also had seven assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander netted 31 points after scoring a career-high 54 in a home win over Utah on Wednesday.
The Thunder shot 40.5 percent overall and lost at home for the first time since Nov. 17, snapping a 12-game win streak on their own court.
After Oklahoma City led by two at halftime, Dallas started the third quarter on a 21-6 run to take an 81-68 lead midway through the period.
During that stretch, the Thunder guard Luguentz Dort was ejected with 6:50 left in the quarter after making contact with Gafford’s groin area as Dort was fighting around a screen. Williams was called for a technical foul in the aftermath as Gafford remained down for several moments before hitting two free throws to put the Mavericks up 77-68.
Irving finished the third quarter with 10 points to help Dallas carry a 91-83 lead into the fourth.
Gilgeous-Alexander drew Oklahoma City within 102-100 on a pullup jumper at the 5:29 mark, but Quentin Grimes quickly answered with a 3-pointer that triggered an 8-2 Mavericks run.
The Thunder closed within four twice in the final minute before Grimes and Washington combined for five free throws to put the game away.
Dallas held Gilgeous-Alexander largely in check until late thanks to a zone defense that made it difficult for Oklahoma City’s offense to operate. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 in the fourth quarter, going 6-of-9 from the field.
Dinwiddie tallied nine points in the fourth to help Dallas secure the win.
–Field Level Media
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