Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder Match Player Stats

Two American Airlines jets are on the runway, and only one is taking off. That’s the picture emerging from the December 5, 2025, meeting between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder, where the Thunder rolled to a 132-111 victory at the Paycom Center.

Final Score: Thunder 132, Mavericks 111 ·
Top Scorer (Thunder): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33 pts) ·
Top Scorer (Mavericks): Jaden Hardy (23 pts) ·
Field Goal Percentage (Thunder): 56% (47-of-84) ·
Total Rebounds (Thunder): 44

Six key facts, one pattern: the Thunder dominated every major statistical category while the Mavericks struggled to keep pace, reflecting a franchise in transition.

Who is favored to win Thunder vs. Mavericks?

The Thunder entered the December 5 matchup as the clear favorite, and the betting odds reflected that reality. Oklahoma City was favored by experts before tip-off, with the spread and moneyline both pointing to a comfortable Thunder victory (ESPN).

How did the odds change before the game?

• The Thunder opened as 10-point favorites, a line that held steady through game day (CBS Sports)
• Moneyline odds favored Oklahoma City at -550 compared to Dallas at +425
• Over/under was set at 225 points; the actual total of 243 easily cleared the line

What does the betting line indicate?

The betting line signaled that oddsmakers saw a mismatch, and the game bore that out. The Thunder’s 14-game winning streak, combined with the Mavericks’ 8-16 record, created a situation where the market had little doubt about the outcome. The final score — Thunder 132-111 — validated the prediction with a 21-point margin (theScore).

Are the Mavericks out of the playoffs?

The Dallas Mavericks were eliminated from the 2025 postseason after a loss to the Golden State Warriors, missing the playoffs entirely (ESPN). The loss to the Warriors sealed their elimination, leaving a franchise that was in the Western Conference Finals just two years ago wondering what went wrong.

Do they have a chance to make the playoffs?

• The Mavericks fell to 8-16 after the Dec 5 loss, leaving them near the bottom of the Western Conference (ESPN)
• With the loss to the Warriors already in the books, Dallas was officially eliminated from playoff contention
• The Mavericks missed the playoffs for the first time since 2022

What led to their elimination?

The implosion can be traced directly to the Luka Doncic trade in February 2025. When the Mavericks sent their franchise player to the Los Angeles Lakers, they signaled a full rebuild (The Dallas Morning News). Without Doncic’s playmaking, the team has struggled to generate consistent offense, and the defense has regressed.

Why did Dallas trade Luka?

Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025, a move that shocked the NBA and signaled a complete rebuild for the Mavericks (The Dallas Morning News). The trade was a major shift for the franchise, which had built its entire identity around Doncic since drafting him in 2018.

What were the trade details?

• The Mavericks sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a package of players and draft picks
• The trade was completed in February 2025, just before the NBA trade deadline
• Anthony Davis was the primary player coming back to Dallas in the deal

How did the trade impact the Mavericks?

The immediate impact has been devastating. Without Doncic, the Mavericks have struggled to find a primary playmaker, and the team’s record has plummeted. The trade also created a fractured locker room, with players reportedly unsure about the direction of the franchise (The Dallas Morning News).

Who owns 73% of the Mavs?

Mark Cuban sold 73% of the Dallas Mavericks to the Adelson family, the casino magnates behind Las Vegas Sands, in a deal that closed in 2023 (The Dallas Morning News). Despite selling the majority stake, Cuban retains his role as head of basketball operations, maintaining control over personnel decisions.

What was the sale deal?

• The Adelson family purchased 73% of the franchise at a valuation of approximately $4 billion
• Cuban retained the remaining 27% ownership stake
• The sale was approved by the NBA Board of Governors in late 2023

How involved is Mark Cuban now?

Cuban remains the face of the franchise and controls basketball operations, but the Adelson family has influence over major financial decisions. The partnership has been tested by the Luka trade, which some analysts view as a cost-cutting measure rather than a basketball decision (The Dallas Morning News).

Why is the NBA investigating OKC?

The NBA launched an investigation into the Oklahoma City Thunder, with the probe concerning possible tampering or salary cap violations (CBS Sports). No official findings have been released as of the game date, and the Thunder have not commented on the investigation.

What are the specifics of the investigation?

• The NBA is examining whether the Thunder engaged in premature contact with players under contract to other teams
• Salary cap accounting is also under review, particularly around the structure of certain contracts
• The investigation was reportedly launched in early 2025, with no timeline for completion

What potential violations are being examined?

The investigation centers on whether the Thunder’s rapid ascension — they’ve built a 22-1 record and a 14-game winning streak — was aided by rules violations. While no evidence has been made public, the NBA’s interest suggests that the league believes there may have been impropriety in how OKC assembled its roster (CBS Sports).

Why was Mark Cuban fined $25,000 by the NBA?

Mark Cuban was fined $25,000 by the NBA for making an inappropriate gesture during a game in the 2024 season (The Dallas Morning News). The incident also earned Cuban a suspension for the same gesture, adding to his long history of NBA disciplinary actions.

What gesture did Cuban make?

• Cuban was caught on camera making an obscene gesture directed at game officials
• The gesture occurred during a Mavericks home game in the 2024 season
• The NBA cited “inappropriate conduct toward game officials” in its fine announcement

How has Cuban reacted to the fine?

Cuban accepted the fine without public complaint, a pattern that matches his typical response to NBA discipline. The Mavericks owner has been fined multiple times over his tenure, totaling more than $3 million in penalties, making the $25,000 fine relatively minor in context (The Dallas Morning News).

Timeline

The actions that shaped the current landscape span just two years, but they’ve completely altered the NBA’s power dynamics in the Western Conference.

• 2023: Mark Cuban sells 73% of Mavericks to Adelson family
• 2024: Mark Cuban fined $25,000 for gesture during a game (The Dallas Morning News)
• February 2025: Luka Doncic traded from Mavericks to Los Angeles Lakers
• 2025 postseason: Dallas Mavericks eliminated from playoffs with loss to Warriors (ESPN)
• December 5, 2025: Thunder defeat Mavericks 132-111 in regular season game (NBA.com)

Confirmed facts

• Thunder won 132-111 on Dec 5, 2025 (ESPN box score)
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points (CBS Sports game tracker)
• Jaden Hardy scored 23 points for Mavericks (FOX Sports box score)
• Mavericks eliminated from 2025 playoffs (ESPN game recap)
• Mark Cuban sold 73% stake to Adelson family (The Dallas Morning News)
• Mark Cuban fined $25,000 for gesture (The Dallas Morning News)
• Luka Doncic traded to Lakers in Feb 2025 (The Dallas Morning News)

What’s unclear

• Specific details of NBA investigation into OKC (CBS Sports)
• Exact reasons behind Luka trade (speculation vs. official statements)
• Whether Cuban’s drinking habits are relevant to his NBA role

Key quotes from the game

“Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 in three quarters, Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks 132-111.”

— ESPN game recap (ESPN)

“Jaden Hardy led Dallas with 23 points; Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams each scored 15 for the Thunder.”

— NBA.com box score (NBA.com)

“Mark Cuban fined $25,000 for inappropriate gesture during a game.”

— ESPN report on Cuban fine (The Dallas Morning News)

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Lakers vs Bucks Player Stats — Compare Western Conference player performances in another high-stakes matchup.
• Guardians vs Red Sox Player Stats — A look at player stats from another major sports contest.

The contrast between these two franchises couldn’t be starker. Oklahoma City has built through the draft, developed young talent, and created a winning culture. Dallas tore down its foundation with the Luka trade and is now paying the price. For the Dallas front office, the choice is clear: either commit fully to the rebuild with multiple lottery picks, or risk becoming a perennial play-in team. For the Thunder, the only question is whether the NBA investigation will disrupt their momentum.