OKLAHOMA CITY — Hoping for a second chance, Anthony Davis tried to gain some momentum before halftime. Instead, several Thunder defenders surrounded Dallas’ best player. Chet Holmgren broke up his layup attempt as the buzzer sounded.
That’s the story of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 132-111 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The gap between the two teams in the middle section was as huge as an ocean – even if the former was without a few players.
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Early on, it felt like the Mavericks would catch the Thunder. They’ve ironed out some issues since Nico Harrison was fired. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander started, and so did Cooper Flagg. The two teams were tied at 27 points.
The Thunder then took control of the game. They scored 36 points in the second game. The 20-8 climax turned into a one-sided game in the blink of an eye. The usual third quarter avalanches occur earlier. The Thunder led the Mavericks 63-48 into halftime.
The Thunder continued to attack in the third quarter. They scored 41 points in this game. Gilgeous-Alexander can’t be stopped. Coupled with the best defense in the NBA, their lead grew to over 20 points. The Mavericks can’t get anything going without a true playmaker. The defending MVP efficiently scored 33 points in three quarters.
At the end of the third quarter, the Thunder led 104-74. The only drama left is whether Davis will be considered a goose egg. Instead, he ended up on the scoreboard — but barely. Both teams emptied their benches, with the Thunder scoring 28 points in the final frame.
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The Thunder shot 56% from the field and 12 of 30 (40%) from three-point range. Made 26 of 28 free throws. They made 47 shots and sent out 30 assists. Six Thunder players scored in double figures. All 12 Thunder players played big minutes and scored.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points and had 6 assists. Jaylen Williams scored 15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Holmgren had 15 points and eight rebounds. Carson Wallace had 11 points and 4 rebounds. Aaron Wiggins scored 11 points. Kenrich Williams scored 10 points.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks shot 48% from the field and 16 of 37 (43.2%) from three-point range. Made 13 of 20 free throws. They made 41 shots and had 28 assists. Six Mavericks players scored in double figures.
Flagg ended up with 16 points and 2 rebounds. Davis scored 2 points and 8 rebounds. Jaden Hardy came off the bench to score 23 points. Najee Marshall scored 18 points. D’Angelo Russell and Max Christie each scored 12 points. Ryan Nembhard scored 10 points.
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Well, it’s business as usual for the Thunder. They are the best team in the NBA for a reason. Gilgeous-Alexander is a scoring machine and headlines the league’s best defense in decades. Combine these two elite elements and you create a winning machine in which more games end in double-digit wins than defeats.
Let’s take a look at the results of Thunder players:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A+
December 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts after receiving a call on him during a defensive play against the Dallas Mavericks in the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Gilgeous-Alexander passed the ball to Christie and started dancing. The crossover transforms into a behind-the-back dribble. With his defender unsure of his next move, he kicked off before finding his footing. He turned around and swooped in for a fadeaway mid-range jumper.
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Just play with his food. Gilgeous-Alexander made 10 of 12 shots and scored 33 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. He made 2 of 2 three-pointers and 11 of 12 free throws. He also has a handicap.
At this point, Gilgeous-Alexander did just that. Any time he pulls the ball up from mid-range, you can expect a run from him. His footwork is unique. Patience is immeasurable. Every time the reigning MVP gets that look in his eyes, he’s ready to write another line of basketball poetry.
That aside, Gilgeous-Alexander was unstoppable in the third quarter. He finished the game with 16 points. It was another shift and he was leaving earlier than scheduled. He scored more points than he played.
While the stories of Nebhard and Christie are interesting, they are far from capable of limiting Gilgeous-Alexander. It was an unfair game that helped him score more than 30 points efficiently in three quarters, and then he missed the final game again – which has become something that happens every game.
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There’s not much more to say about Gilgeous-Alexander. He is one of the greatest scorers of all time. What you’re looking at now is NBA history. Enjoy it when he’s at the peak of his powers. Don’t let dishonest social media statements blind you.
Jaylen Williams: B
December 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) stands during a Dallas Mavericks free throw in the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Williams fell behind in transition after Ajay Mitchell stripped the ball away on Dallas’ inbounds attempt. He was rewarded for catching behind-the-back passes and finishing off fast-break dunks that Thunder fans loved.
Williams made 5 of 11 shots and scored 15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. He made 1 of 3 three-pointers and 4 of 4 free throws. He also stole.
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Williams is still figuring out how to shoot, and he attacks the rim frequently. Dallas doesn’t have anyone with the size and speed to slow him down. It was also a short night for the 24-year-old, who was sidelined in the fourth quarter due to a lopsided score.
It will be a work in progress on offense for Williams. He also admits this. For the first time since his return, he’s slightly pulling back the curtain on his extensive rehab process. At this point, time is the only thing bringing him closer to a full recovery.
Defensively, though, the Thunder added an All-Defensive player to the NBA’s clear All-Defensive team. He can help apply pressure on ball handlers and serve as a secondary rim protector when needed. Using his long wingspan, he can poke the ball out of opposing players’ possession.
Williams helped lead the Thunder to dominance. That feeling will only increase as he develops into a scorer. This should scare the rest of the NBA, as the Thunder have clearly shown over the past two seasons that they are in a class of their own.
Chet Holmgren: B
December 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) moves the ball while Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy (1) defends during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
He also took over his own turnover after Williams’ floater came out. That’s when Holmgren cut to the basket, creating an open lane. He caught the pass and dunked with both hands without any player resistance. Flagg and Davis looked at each other in confusion.
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Holmgren made 6 of 11 shots and scored 15 points, 8 rebounds and 1 assist. He made 1 of 4 three-pointers and 2 of 2 free throws. He also has a handicap.
In another game, Holmgren was busy at center. Rolling toward the rim leading to an easy dunk. Historically, Davis has his number. There’s nothing wrong with that. He is a future Hall of Famer. But in this latest chapter, the former made the latter seem a step slower throughout the evening.
The Mavericks were getting nowhere in the middle. The half-court offense became chaotic. While the block numbers weren’t what they usually are, Holmgren’s presence still forced opposing players to reconsider whether they actually wanted to attack him on the break. You see a lot of that here.
Holmgren also had a brief night. He missed the game in the fourth quarter. The Thunder have normalized blowout wins at this point. They should expect a second All-Star this season to join Gilgeous-Alexander in their historic run of dominance. Expected to be 23 years old.
Carson Wallace: B
December 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Carson Wallace (22) gestures after scoring during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Wallace matched up with Flagg and went right at him. A dribble between his legs lets him drive left to the basket. He creates enough separation to jump in the air and score layups. The 22-year-old is usually quiet with a scoring bag, but now he’s feeling comfortable.
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Wallace made 4 of 7 shots and scored 11 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist. He made 3 of 5 three-pointers. He also had a steal.
On a team that has some of the best defensive players of any type in the NBA, Wallace is the guy who’s getting national recognition. He won the Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month award. You can see why, as he leads the steals charts. He also helped Flagg end the game after a hot streak. Dallas’ hot backcourt has also been pretty quiet.
On offense, outside shots fell to him. If you’re the Thunder, you hope that continues. When Gilgeous-Alexander attacks the rim, he also gets the attention of all five defenders. That means expect a lot of kickoff passes to the perimeter. He knocked them down tonight and helped put Dallas on top of the scoreboard.
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This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Player ratings: Thunder ease past Mavericks 132-111