The Dallas Mavericks bounced back from a three-game losing streak, including a controversial loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. OKC entered the game tied for the NBA's best record and had just beaten the other team with the top record by 20 points.

The Dallas Mavericks are fresh off a massive victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. It wasn't an easy battle. Despite building a big first-half lead, the Thunder quickly erased their deficit early in the second half to level the playing field down the stretch.

Brilliant down the stretch

The Dallas Mavericks got the upper hand on the Oklahoma City Thunder for the second time this season, though it was undermanned.

The Mavericks have had some ups and downs. Will they make moves for the better as February's trade deadline draws near?

Kyrie Irving scored 25 points, Spencer Dinwiddie and P.J. Washington Jr. added 16 apiece and the Dallas Mavericks beat Oklahoma City 106-98 Friday night as Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed his first game of the season.

Kyrie Irving has surpassed Kobe Bryant on a prestigious list in fewer games after the Mavericks' victory over the Thunder

That decision forced the Thunder to stick close to the Mavericks' role players throughout the first quarter. Once Washington scored the first five points, Irving asserted himself and drained a 3-pointer before finishing at the basket with a finger roll to give the Mavericks an early 10-0 lead.

(AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez) Dallas Mavericks’ P.J. Washington gets his ball stolen by Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez ...

The NBA acknowledged in its Last Two Minute Report that officials should have called a goaltending at the end of the

The Oklahoma City Thunder are taking on the Dallas Mavericks on the second night of a back-to-back. The Thunder are 7-0 on the second legs of back-to-back stret

Washington's career playoff series tilted the odds in Dallas' favor last year. Dared to make outside shots, the career 35% 3-pointer shooter shot 46.9% from 3 on 8.2 attempts against OKC in the playoffs. And even when he doesn't dominate on the floor, he still makes his presence known.