By Harshit
OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 6 —
The Oklahoma City Thunder entered Friday night carrying the weight of history and the confidence of a champion. Their 21-1 record — the best start by any team since the 2015–16 Golden State Warriors opened 24-0 — had already transformed them from defending champions into the league’s most imposing force. A 13-game winning streak and the NBA’s top scorer, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, positioned Oklahoma City as the team every contender would have to climb over in the months ahead.
Waiting on the opposite sideline was a Dallas Mavericks group in the middle of its own evolution. Led by 18-year-old phenom Cooper Flagg and bolstered by the return of star forward Anthony Davis, Dallas arrived at Paycom Center having snapped a three-game losing streak and riding a wave of emerging confidence. For the Mavericks, this was not just another road game — it was a measuring stick against the league’s best.
What unfolded was a showcase of star power, youthful promise and championship composure, and a reminder that Oklahoma City’s path through the Western Conference will be crowded with challengers determined to disrupt perfection.
Gilgeous-Alexander Controls the Game With MVP-Level Command
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who leads the NBA at 32.8 points per game, set the tone early. His rhythm, his pace, his unbothered patience — everything about the Thunder’s offensive flow stemmed from his command of the moment.
He attacked switches with precision, punished Dallas defenders who sagged under screens and orchestrated Oklahoma City’s half-court sets with the calm of a veteran superstar. His footwork along the baseline forced rotation after rotation, and his ability to collapse the defense opened windows for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams to attack mismatches.
The Thunder’s poise during their historic run has been rooted in Gilgeous-Alexander’s unwavering consistency. Whether games were blowouts or nail-biters, he has been the player who brought Oklahoma City safely to the finish line.
Friday was no different.
“We’re learning how to win in every environment,” Gilgeous-Alexander said before the matchup. “Every game in the NBA looks different, and you have to respond to whatever is in front of you.”
That adaptability has carried the Thunder from dominant wins in the early season to grinding, resilient performances over the past two weeks — a sign of a team ready to defend its crown in whatever form the battle takes.
Cooper Flagg Continues His Meteoric Rise
Dallas may not be a championship contender yet, but it has something the rest of the league fears: a generational rookie ahead of schedule.
Cooper Flagg’s three-game, 20-plus-point streak — the longest ever by a teenager in NBA history — has elevated him from promising prospect to Dallas’ most dangerous offensive weapon. Flagg entered the game averaging 27 points on a blistering 59% shooting stretch, and Oklahoma City treated him accordingly, mixing matchups and throwing length at him to disrupt rhythm.
Flagg remained unfazed.
His perimeter footwork allowed him to shake defenders into mid-range space. His timing off cuts created pockets of opportunity against Oklahoma City’s help defense. And his competitive fearlessness — a trait Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has praised repeatedly — continued to shine on the road against the league’s hottest team.
“He makes winning plays,” Kidd said this week. “He does them at 18 years old. It’s not just scoring — it’s poise, reads, discipline. You can’t teach that.”
Flagg’s emergence has softened the pressure on Anthony Davis, who is easing back after missing 14 games with a calf strain. Davis’ interior presence and rim protection were crucial for Dallas, but the glimpses of future stardom from Flagg remained the Mavericks’ brightest spark.
Ryan Nembhard’s Breakout Run Adds Another Layer to Dallas’ Offense
While Flagg’s burst has dominated headlines, Ryan Nembhard’s eruption has quietly reshaped Dallas’ identity. His back-to-back masterclass — 43 points and 23 assists with only one turnover across wins over Denver and Miami — placed him firmly among the league’s most improved players.
The undrafted guard’s blend of poise and aggression brought balance to Dallas’ half-court offense. He controlled pace, manipulated screens and attacked tight spaces with precision uncommon for a first-year point guard.
Against Oklahoma City’s elite defense, Nembhard’s composure was repeatedly tested. As the Thunder applied pressure with length and switching versatility, Nembhard continued to find angles most guards would not even attempt.
His development is positioning Dallas as a future Western Conference threat, especially once the roster returns to full health.
Thunder Depth Holds Firm Despite Injuries
Even with the best record in basketball, Oklahoma City has not been immune to injuries. Friday marked the fourth straight absence for big man Isaiah Hartenstein, while Alex Caruso and Lu Dort continued to deal with lingering ailments.
Yet the Thunder’s bench production has remained a stabilizing force.
Jalen Williams continues to grow as a secondary scorer capable of carrying stretches of offense, while Ajay Mitchell and Cason Wallace have delivered critical minutes in the backcourt. Holmgren’s defensive presence and shot-altering ability allow the Thunder to survive extended possessions even when mismatches develop.
Oklahoma City’s versatility — long one of its defining traits — remains its greatest weapon.
What This Matchup Means Moving Forward
For Oklahoma City, a victory underscores their historic pace and tightens their grip on the league’s No. 1 seed. The Thunder are beginning to resemble the Warriors’ early-dynasty teams: layered, disciplined, structured and ruthless in execution.
For Dallas, the night reaffirmed what the organization already believes: this young core is ahead of schedule. Cooper Flagg’s rise, Nembhard’s breakthrough and Davis’ steady recovery give the Mavericks a foundation stronger than anticipated at this stage of the season.
The gap between these teams may still favor Oklahoma City, but Dallas is rapidly building something real — something sustainable — something that will matter for years.