The Oklahoma City Thunder bring a 4-0 record to American Airlines Center on Wednesday for a Thunder vs Mavericks preview that pits the NBA‘s last unbeaten Western Conference team against a Dallas Mavericks squad dealing with five injured players in its frontcourt. Oklahoma City has won four straight since an opening-night loss, while Dallas enters at 2-2 after alternating wins and losses through its first month. Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m. ET.
Thunder Vs Mavericks Game Information
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 28
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
- TV/Streaming: ESPN, KSBI, Thunder App, KFAA-TV, MavsTV
- Series: First meeting of the 2026-27 season
Thunder Outlook
Oklahoma City sits atop the Northwest Division at 4-0, a half-game ahead of Portland and 2.5 games up on defending-division contender Denver. The Thunder have won their last four by an average margin built on defense first, allowing Houston to beat them 116-89 in their only loss before reeling off victories over San Antonio, Denver, the Clippers and Phoenix. Oklahoma City’s most recent win came Monday, a 125-114 decision over Phoenix.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the team at 27.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.8 blocks per game, and he is projected to start at guard. Isaiah Hartenstein leads Oklahoma City on the glass at 8.5 rebounds per game. The Thunder shoot just 44.6% from the field but have forced extra possessions, averaging 13.3 offensive rebounds per game against 13.8 turnovers.
Oklahoma City’s injury report is crowded. Chet Holmgren (right knee) and Alex Caruso (right ankle) are both listed as out with a return date of Oct. 31, while Thomas Sorber (knee) and Nikola Topic (back) are out with a projected return of Nov. 4. Guard Ajay Mitchell is day-to-day with an ankle issue and his status for Wednesday remains a game-time call. Mitchell scored 30 points in the win over Phoenix, according to Total Apex Sports’ recap of that game.
Mavericks Outlook
Dallas sits at 2-2, two games behind Houston and Memphis in the Southwest Division, and has alternated losses and wins over its last four games. The Mavericks lost to San Antonio 122-106 on Oct. 25 before winning at Miami 113-109 two days later, a result that followed earlier blowout losses to Atlanta (135-111) and Houston (128-110).
Rookie Cooper Flagg leads the team in both scoring and playmaking at 25.0 points and 6.3 assists per game, and he also averages 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 1.7 blocks. P.J. Washington paces Dallas on the boards at 7.5 rebounds per game. The Mavericks shoot 49.4% from the field, the better mark in this matchup, but their 17.3 turnovers per game is the highest figure on either side.
Dallas is without four players in its frontcourt: Santi Aldama (knee surgery), Tarik Biberovic (heel inflammation) and Caleb Martin (thumb sprain) are all out with a projected return of Oct. 28, while Sergio de Larrea (knee strain) is out through at least Oct. 30. Naji Marshall is day-to-day with an illness. The absences leave Dallas thin on wing depth heading into a game against a Thunder team that ranks among the league’s deepest rosters.
Key Matchup
Gilgeous-Alexander against a Mavericks backcourt that has allowed 112.5 points per game will set the tone. Oklahoma City’s star averages 27.2 points on an offense that gets to the free-throw line often, converting 87.5% of its attempts there compared to Dallas’ 76.1% mark. With Dallas missing four frontcourt players, the Mavericks’ interior defense will be tested against a Thunder team that already out-rebounds opponents on the offensive glass by better than three boards a game (13.3 to 10.0). Flagg’s all-around production, including 3.7 steals per game, gives Dallas a counter if he can force the turnovers that have plagued Oklahoma City’s four-game win streak.
What To Watch
Oklahoma City is chasing its fifth straight win and remains the only unbeaten team in the Northwest Division. A win would extend the Thunder’s streak and keep pace with Houston and Memphis, the league’s other 4-0 teams, for the best record in the Western Conference. For Dallas, the game is a measuring stick against a conference favorite while missing significant frontcourt depth.
The Mavericks’ response with a diminished rotation, and whether Flagg can produce against a Thunder defense that has held four of its last five opponents under 105 points, will shape how the night is read. Oklahoma City returns home to face the Clippers in its next outing, continuing a stretch Total Apex Sports has tracked in its earlier Clippers matchup coverage.
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