Thunder Roll Past Mavericks 100-87 Behind SGA's 30 Points

The defending champion Thunder marched into Dallas and took control. Oklahoma City defeated the Mavericks 100-87 on Sunday night. The Thunder are hitting their stride at the perfect time.

SGA Takes Over

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looked like a superhero out there. He glided across the court and attacked the basket all night. SGA finished with 30 points, five assists, and four steals. He shot 60 percent from the floor in 33 minutes. Every time Dallas tried to close the gap, he had an answer. His quick hands created turnovers that turned into easy baskets.

Thunder Defense Shines

Oklahoma City jumped ahead early and never looked back. They led 36-25 after the first quarter. The Thunder kept pouring it on. By halftime, they were up 58-49. Their defense made life hard for Dallas all night long.

Chet Holmgren dominated inside with 19 points and nine rebounds. The seven-footer blocked shots and grabbed rebounds like a magnet. He shot over 57 percent from the field.

Isaiah Hartenstein controlled the paint with seven points, five rebounds, and four assists. Isaiah Joe caught fire from deep, drilling shots for 14 points. Jared McCain added 11 points off the bench.

Mavericks Keep Fighting

Dallas struggled without star rookie Cooper Flagg, who sat out with a foot injury. Caleb Martin led the Mavericks with 18 points. Max Christie and Brandon Williams each scored 14 points. Dwight Powell pulled down nine rebounds to go with nine points.

But it wasn't enough. The Mavericks have now lost seven straight games. They fell to 21-39 on the season.

Thunder Rolling

Oklahoma City improved to 47-15 and sits at number one in the Western Conference. They've won back-to-back games by huge margins. The Thunder defense is suffocating opponents. Their championship experience shows every night. This team looks ready to defend their title.