Kyrie Irving — an expert in rivalries — agreed that the Thunder and Mavericks have become arch-nemesis. “It’s personal. I think it’s the start of a healthy rivalry," Irving said. "... We’re gonna be seeing them a lot over the next few years so it’s good that you set the precedent now what it’s gonna be like.

That decision forced the Thunder to stick close to the Mavericks' role players throughout the first quarter. Once Washington scored the first five points, Irving asserted himself and drained a 3-pointer before finishing at the basket with a finger roll to give the Mavericks an early 10-0 lead.

Kyrie Irving returned from injury on Friday night and led the Dallas Mavericks to a big 106-98 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Irving scored 25 points and added five rebounds and five assists in a quality effort despite still dealing with a lumbar back sprain.

In a matchup of depleted rosters, the Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a 106-98 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. The Thunder were without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. Meanwhile, the Mavericks were without Luka Doncic and Dereck Lively II. It became a contest of Jalen Williams, Kyrie Irving and role players.

In the first quarter of the Oklahoma City Thunder ’s 106-98 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, Lu Dort received a technical foul for flopping before he was hit with an unsportsmanlike technical foul in the second quarter.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to an easy home win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.