The Dallas Mavericks started off the new year right in Oklahoma City with a 95-86 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night.
The Thunder were missing key players like Shia Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, and Darius Bazely, and the Mavericks were integrating players from the health and safety protocols list like Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Tim Hardaway Jr., which resulted in some fairly sloppy basketball in the first half.
Still, the Mavericks moved the ball well, getting 16 assists on their 21 first half baskets. After surviving an initial bout of hot shooting by the Thunder, the Mavericks tightened their defense and ground out the Thunder’s offense.