The Mavericks gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about Wednesday night in Dallas. Cooper Flagg scored 26 points and dished out eight assists, P.J. Washington added 18, and Dallas buried a season-best 16 three-pointers on the way to a 120-96 win over Oklahoma City. The Mavs led by 12 at the half and stretched it to 27 in the fourth quarter, moving above .500 for the first time since Flagg joined the team.

The night belonged in part to Kyrie Irving, who scored 15 points in his first home regular-season game since tearing his left ACL on March 3, 2025. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, played without Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso, all sidelined by injuries. The Thunder shot just 5 of 32 from beyond the arc, their worst long-range performance of the season. Ajay Mitchell led OKC with 29 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 21.

It also marked the first home victory for first-year Mavericks coach Dusty May. For Waxahachie-area hoops fans balancing the Mavs with Friday night lights and the upcoming county fair season, it was a welcome reminder that Dallas basketball is worth watching again. What’s your take: is this Mavericks team a real contender, or do you want to see it against a fully healthy opponent first?