The OKC Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks timeline is one of the most intense stories in modern NBA history. It is a fierce rivalry between the two teams whether it is the playoff matches or in the regular season. It began with such legends as Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant and still goes on with Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Every game is a manifesto. The timeline just gets stronger as the years pass by. The big moments are not forgotten by the fans on both sides. It is not only basketball but rather a rivalry inspired by passion, talent, and memorable history.
Head-to-Head Snapshot
Across all matchups in the regular season and playoffs, the Thunder hold a slight edge in the Okc Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks Timeline, leading 107–100 over 207 games .
During the regular season, they have played against each other 178 times with the Thunder recording 91 wins and the Mavericks 87. This places OKC with a 51.1 percent success rate as compared to Dallas.
The two teams have played each other 29 times in six series when it concerns playoffs. Once again, OKC has a close lead, 16 to 13 in wins. The two teams have won three series each with Dallas winning the latest one in the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals.
This balanced rivalry reflected in both regular season and postseason play makes the Okc Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks Timeline one of the NBA’s most enduring and competitive histories.
Early Rivalry: 2008–2012
The OKC Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks timeline really took shape when the Thunder moved from Seattle in 2008. Their initial major conflict occurred on December 14, 2008 when Dirk scored 46 over OKC.
This rivalry escalated in the Western Conference Finals of 2011. The young Thunder was beaten 4 to 1 by Dallas with Dirk, who made a record 24 out of 24 free throws in Game 1. On the 2012 first round, the tension was revoked again between Kendrick Perkins and Dirk when they engaged in a heated exchange.
Then Kevin Durant made a last second jumper in Game 1 and OKC swept Dallas 4-0, and the power shift was signaled. It was these playoff battles and the high-profile superstar matchups, dramatic endings and temper tantrums that lead to one of the most intriguing early rivalries in NBA history.
Thunder’s Playoff Dominance: 2016 Rematch
The year 2016 is a strong reaction of the OKC within the Okc Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks chronology. The Thunder went to the first-round series with confidence and they demonstrated it in the court.
Game 1 was a message: The Oklahoma City Thunder steamrolled the Dallas Mavericks 10870, the largest margin of victory in a playoff game in franchise history. Russell Westbrook had 24 points and 11 assists and Kevin Durant 23.
In Game 2, Dallas rebounded and took Game 2 in a close 85 84 on Raymond Felton play, initiated by Steven. However, that fire did not last.
In Game 3 (131102) and Game 4 (119108), OKC took the lead back, Westbrook and Durant led the way, and the game got intense as Durant was ejected in Game 4. They sealed it in Game 5, with a score of 118 against 104 with Westbrook scoring 36 points, 12 rebounds, and 9.
This show of force with a lot of emotion, stardom, and commanding victories- cemented the position of the Thunder in the top of the OKC Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks chronology, and is one of the reasons why the Thunder is one of the most competitive teams in the NBA.
Transitional Era: 2017–2023
Following its dominance in 2016, the OKC Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks history took a more silent rebuilding stage. OKC has restructured around young talents such as Shai Gilgeous ‑Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Lu Dort, whilst Dallas has developed its team around Luka Doncic adding pieces like P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford by 2024.
Over this period, playoff encounters withered away- however regular season games remained competitive. The groups are evenly divided: OKC ended 3-1 in 2023-24 and had a close lead (3-2) over two years . Some of the memorable moments would be the late‑game triple-double performance by Shai in December 2023 and the performances of Luka at home.
The fact that they are geographically close to each other (separated by only 330km) contributed to the tension, with the fan base of both teams comparing the Luca vs Shai arguments online . These regular season matches created suspense. They are preconditions of the great playoff match in 2024. This period changed this headline Okc Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks Timeline out of the past stories into a current rivalry re-born.
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Present Day: Luka vs Shai (2024–Present)
The current Okc Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks Timeline has reached an exciting new stage, which is the Luka Doncic Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rivalry. Game 1 of the semis in 2024 West, Shai recorded 29 pts, 9 reb, 9 asts as OKC defeated the opponent 117 95. He then had a 34‑point Game 4 and the series was even at 2-2. Throughout the entire series, Shai recorded the average of 32.2pts, 8.0rebs, 7.3asts.
In the meantime, Luka was not a slouch-he put up 34.0 pts, 13.5 asts, 11.5 rebs in two regular-season contests against OKC. However, in December 2024, Shai had a 39 point performance and led OKC to a 118 104 victory in an NBA Cup quarterfinal, with Luka scoring only 16pts.
The statistics speak for themselves: Shai is averaging 37.5 pts, 6.5 asts, 5.0 rebs in the recent regular-season games. The two stars fire up this rivalry through MVP-like performances and big-stakes confrontations. It is not only games as the rivalry is between two growing pillars of the franchise that is the current Okc Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks Timeline.
Final Word
The Okc Thunder vs Dallas Mavericks timeline is a story of fierce competition and unforgettable moments. From early playoff battles to today’s Luka vs Shai rivalry, these teams keep pushing each other to new heights. This timeline reflects passion, talent, and evolving NBA greatness. Fans can expect even more thrilling chapters as both teams continue to grow. The rivalry is far from over, it’s a defining NBA saga worth watching closely.
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