The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered their first defeat of the season in a crushing 120-96 road loss to the Dallas Mavericks, a result that caught the attention of NBA followers on 12BET Malaysia as their four-game winning streak came to an abrupt end. Oklahoma City entered the contest without several important players, including Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso, who were all sidelined by injuries. Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets climbed to the top of the Western Conference standings with a perfect 5-0 record, while the Thunder dropped to fifth place at 4-1.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled to find his usual offensive rhythm against Dallas. The Thunder superstar converted just seven of his 19 field-goal attempts and made only one of six shots from three-point range. He finished with 21 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal, but his minus-21 plus-minus rating was the worst of any player in the game. Oklahoma City’s shooting problems extended throughout the roster, with the team converting just five of 32 three-point attempts for a disappointing 15.6% success rate. Without their usual offensive efficiency or several key defensive contributors, the Thunder were unable to contain the Mavericks.

Dallas, meanwhile, benefited from outstanding performances by three former No. 1 overall draft picks. Cooper Flagg delivered the most impressive individual display, scoring 26 points on 10-of-23 shooting, including two three-pointers from eight attempts. He also converted all four free throws while recording five rebounds and eight assists without committing a turnover. His plus-12 rating reflected his positive influence on the game. Through the opening five contests, Flagg was averaging 25.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.8 steals, with shooting percentages of 52.2% from the field, 31.8% from three-point range and 91.7% from the free-throw line.

Kyrie Irving also played an important role in the victory. Across 27 minutes, he scored 15 points on six successful field goals from 14 attempts, including three three-pointers from eight shots. He added two rebounds, four assists and defensive contributions involving steals and blocks, finishing with a game-high plus-25 rating. His ability to control the tempo helped Dallas maintain its advantage whenever Oklahoma City attempted to fight back.

Another standout performer was Zaccharie Risacher, whose efficient scoring and defensive energy strengthened the Mavericks at both ends of the court. He converted five of six field-goal attempts, including two of three three-pointers, and made one of his two free throws. Risacher finished with 13 points, six rebounds and one assist while recording a plus-16 rating. Together, Flagg, Irving and Risacher combined for an impressive 54 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists, demonstrating the attacking potential of Dallas’s three former top draft selections.

For basketball enthusiasts following the Western Conference competition through 12BET Malaysia, Risacher’s defensive performance was particularly noteworthy because of his ability to restrict Gilgeous-Alexander. The young forward not only contributed efficiently on offense but also played a decisive role in frustrating Oklahoma City’s leading scorer. Mavericks head coach Dusty Mesai praised his defensive discipline, explaining that he had carefully studied footage of Gilgeous-Alexander but rarely witnessed such effective individual defense against him. Risacher’s intensity also inspired his teammates, helping Dallas establish a stronger collective defensive presence.

The Mavericks controlled the contest from beginning to end, winning every quarter and gradually extending their advantage. Dallas took the opening period 33-30 before edging the second quarter 32-29 to establish a six-point halftime lead. Their dominance became more obvious after the break, as they outscored Oklahoma City 29-22 in the third quarter. The Thunder had little left in the tank during the final period, managing just 15 points while Dallas added another 26 to complete a comfortable 24-point victory.

The result highlighted how quickly injuries and poor shooting can affect even the strongest championship contenders. Oklahoma City’s defensive structure looked considerably weaker without several established rotation players, while its inability to convert perimeter opportunities allowed Dallas to dictate the pace. In contrast, the Mavericks combined efficient scoring, intelligent ball movement and aggressive defense to produce one of their most convincing performances of the young season.

Following this commanding victory, Dallas improved to 3-2 and climbed to seventh place in the Western Conference, providing another interesting development for NBA followers keeping track of the standings on 12BET Malaysia. After the game, Flagg credited Masai Ujiri’s summer efforts to reshape the Mavericks’ team culture, emphasizing that winning and competing had become the organization’s highest priorities. With three former No. 1 picks showing their quality together, Dallas demonstrated that its revamped lineup possesses the talent and determination to challenge formidable opponents, while Oklahoma City must address its injury concerns and shooting struggles to regain its early-season momentum.