Oklahoma City Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks

The matchup is set for Monday, October 6, 2025, as part of the NBA’s preseason schedule. The Thunder will travel to Fort Worth, Texas, to face the Mavericks at Dickies Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Central Time, according to the official team reports.

Both teams are managing workloads and absences heading into the game. For Oklahoma City, several key contributors will sit out: Jalen Williams remains unavailable after wrist surgery, and Thomas Sorber is still recovering from an ACL tear. Kenrich Williams is also out following a knee procedure, while Nikola Topić is expected to miss several weeks after undergoing a testicular procedure. In addition, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Lu Dort are expected to rest for this preseason outing. On the Mavericks’ side, Kyrie Irving continues to recover from an ACL tear, while Daniel Gafford is sidelined with an ankle sprain. Brandon Williams is also unavailable due to a hamstring issue. Dallas plans to give extended minutes to younger players and rotation hopefuls such as Cooper Flagg and Ryan Nembhard, while Oklahoma City will use this opportunity to evaluate players like Cason Wallace, Brooks Barnhizer, and Ousmane Dieng.

With multiple starters resting, both coaching staffs are expected to prioritize player evaluation and system testing rather than results. Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault will likely focus on getting his young players comfortable in set plays and maintaining defensive structure despite the absences. Expect the Thunder to play through their guards, emphasizing ball movement and spacing. Dallas coach Jason Kidd is expected to experiment with smaller lineups, pushing the tempo and testing defensive rotations without Irving and Gafford. Dallas Mavericks may lean on their transition game and pick-and-roll sets to evaluate how their new additions adapt to in-game pressure.

Media previews have described this matchup as a developmental opportunity more than a competitive showdown. Reports highlight Oklahoma City’s long list of absences and how the game could reveal bench depth and chemistry ahead of the regular season. Several outlets have also emphasized that Dallas will use this contest to test new lineups and assess how their younger players fit into Kidd’s rotation. Commentators have noted that even though it’s a preseason game, the Thunder’s depth gives them a chance to play a more fluid style, while Dallas may focus on half-court execution and spacing around Luka Dončić, who could play limited minutes.

In the studio buildup, analysts are expected to focus on which young players can capitalize on extended opportunities. For the Thunder, attention is on Cason Wallace and Ousmane Dieng to see if they can handle expanded roles. For Dallas, pregame talk centers on Cooper Flagg’s preseason debut and how Dončić manages the floor without Irving. Analysts generally agree that while this game won’t define either team’s season, it offers valuable insight into rotation depth and player readiness. Studio panels remain divided on who holds the advantage, but most see it as an even matchup focused on development rather than results.