The Dallas Mavericks, playing without Luka Doncic due to a bruised right knee, secured a hard-fought 121-119 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight. P.J. Washington delivered an exceptional performance, posting 27 points and a career-best 17 rebounds to help the Mavericks edge past the Thunder, who entered the game with a Western Conference-leading 11-2 record.
Washington, who typically averages modest numbers, rose to the occasion in Doncic’s absence, providing both scoring and dominance on the boards. Kyrie Irving added 23 points and orchestrated Dallas’ offense effectively, guiding the team to a 48% shooting night from the field.
The Mavericks’ size and rebounding advantage proved decisive, as they dominated the boards 53-29, limiting Oklahoma City’s ability to generate second-chance points. The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 36 points and Jalen Williams’ 27, mounted a furious late-game rally after trailing 112-98 with just over six minutes left.
A clutch step-back three-pointer by Gilgeous-Alexander brought Oklahoma City within three points, setting up a tense finish. With 8 seconds remaining, Gilgeous-Alexander tied up Kyrie Irving for a jump ball, won the tip, and earned a trip to the free-throw line with 4.3 seconds left.
He hit the first free throw but missed the second, leaving Luguentz Dort to attempt a contested, off-balance three-pointer at the buzzer, which fell short. Following the Mavericks’ impressive result tonight considering Luka Doncic’s absence, let’s grade their players.
P.J. Washington: A+
Stats: 27 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 steals, 2 blocks, 0 fouls, 1 turnover, 7-13 FG, 3-4 3PT FG, 10-10 FT, 28 mins
P.J. Washington delivered a career performance with 27 points and a personal-best 17 rebounds, playing a key role in the Mavericks’ dominance on the boards. He shot a stellar 10-of-10 from the line and displayed defensive presence with 2 blocks. Washington’s ability to rise to the occasion in Doncic’s absence was game-changing and he has to earn title for player of the game.
Kyrie Irving: A
Stats: 23 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 9-18 FG, 3-6 3PT FG, 2-2 FT, 36 mins
Kyrie Irving was the floor general the Mavericks needed, tallying 23 points on 50% shooting (9-of-18) and hitting 3-of-6 from deep. His 6 assists orchestrated the offense smoothly, and his ability to maintain composure in critical moments was vital. His lone turnover was a testament to his efficient play, and he carried the Mavericks at times when the team looked like they were missing Luka Doncic.
Daniel Gafford: B+
Stats: 11 points, 12 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 1 block, 2 fouls, 3 turnovers, 4-9 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 3-7 FT, 18 mins
Gafford provided grit and size in the paint, contributing 11 points and 12 rebounds, including 5 on the offensive glass. His effort helped the Mavericks control second-chance opportunities. While he struggled at the free-throw line (3-of-7), his defensive energy was impactful.
Jaden Hardy: B+
Stats: 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 3 fouls, 2 turnovers, 6-9 FG, 0-1 3PT FG, 1-1 FT, 24 mins
Jaden Hardy brought a spark off the bench, scoring 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting. His ability to get to the basket and play efficiently in limited minutes was impressive. He also added a steal, showcasing his defensive activity.
Naji Marshall: B+
Stats: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 1 foul, 4 turnovers, 4-6 FG, 0-1 3PT FG, 5-5 FT, 27 mins
Marshall had a well-rounded game with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. He attacked the basket well (5-of-5 from the line) and made the most of his minutes. However, his 4 turnovers were a slight blemish on an otherwise solid performance.
Quentin Grimes: C+
Stats: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 3 fouls, 1 turnover, 2-5 FG, 2-4 3PT FG, 4-4 FT, 21 mins
Grimes contributed 10 points, going 2-of-4 from deep and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. While his production was steady, he didn’t make a significant impact on the boards or defensively. A decent but unspectacular outing considering the performances of some other role players tonight.
Spencer Dinwiddie: C+
Stats: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 2 fouls, 0 turnovers, 3-7 FG, 2-3 3PT FG, 2-2 FT, 17 mins
Spencer Dinwiddie chipped in 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting and was solid from beyond the arc (2-of-3). However, his overall impact on the game was minimal, as he only played 17 minutes and didn’t make significant contributions in other areas.
Klay Thompson: C
Stats: 5 points, 3 rebounds, 0 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 0 fouls, 0 turnovers, 1-11 FG, 1-8 3PT FG, 2-2 FT, 25 mins
Klay Thompson struggled mightily, scoring just 5 points on 1-of-11 shooting, including 1-of-8 from three. While he contributed defensively with 2 steals and a block, his shooting woes hurt the Mavericks’ spacing and overall offensive flow. However, the Thunder always had to keep tabs on Thompson on the perimeter.
Dereck Lively II: C
Stats: 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 steals, 2 blocks, 3 fouls, 1 turnover, 3-5 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 0-1 FT, 26 mins
Dereck Lively II played a steady but unremarkable game with 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks. His defensive presence was valuable, but he didn’t dominate the paint or boards as expected in 26 minutes of action. The big man was still a threat rolling to the rim which he will continue being all season long.
Maxi Kleber: C
Stats: 2 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 4 fouls, 3 turnovers, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 14 mins
Maxi Kleber had a quiet night, scoring only 2 points in 14 minutes. He committed 4 fouls and 3 turnovers, which limited his effectiveness. While he made his lone field goal attempt, his impact was negligible and the Mavericks were able to get more production elsewhere.
Dwight Powell: N/A
Stats: 1 point, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 fouls, 0 turnovers, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 1-2 FT, 4 mins
Dwight Powell only played 4 minutes, scoring 1 point on a trip to the free-throw line. His limited minutes and lack of impact make it difficult to assess his performance and we grade him an N/A tonight.
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