FORT WORTH — Well, that didn’t go as well. For the second straight night, OKC tried to punt a preseason contest. This time around, though, they surrendered a punt return touchdown. The NBA champion was in the background for a rare change of scenery.

The Oklahoma City Thunder dropped a 106-89 preseason loss to the Dallas Mavericks. As they sat out all of their top players, all eyes moved toward the auto-home squad. The latter treated its opener as a dress rehearsal contest as Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis grabbed headlines.

The Thunder were without 12 players, which included their starters and top bench players. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren remained home. Meanwhile, Nikola Topic, Aaron Wiggins and Branden Carlson were new additions to their absences.

Considering the Mavericks are viewed as a sneaky good team, this game went about as expected for the Thunder’s D squad. The offense was in the mud from the jump. A lack of a clear primary ball-handler was noticeable. They fell behind 29-20 after the first quarter.

The Thunder’s offense couldn’t buy a bucket against Dallas’ presumed Opening Night starters. Flagg caught fire with an entertaining second frame. By halftime, it was clear where this was headed. OKC had a 66-40 halftime deficit as the Fort Worth crowd got its money’s worth.

The Mavericks liked what they saw from their starters enough to sit them out after the first half. Meanwhile, the Thunder prettied up the final score. They scored 26 points in the third quarter and 23 points in the final frame to make it somewhat interesting. But they trailed by as many as 32 points.

The Thunder shot 31% from the field and went 14-of-51 (27.5%) from 3. They shot 15-of-20 on free throws. They had 18 assists on 30 baskets. Five Thunder players scored double-digit points.

Brooks Barnhizer led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds. Jaylin Williams had 14 points and six rebounds. Zack Austin scored 13 points off the bench. Ousmane Dieng and Jazian Gortman each had 12 points.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks shot 42% from the field and went 11-of-35 (31.4%) from 3. They shot 27-of-30 on free throws. They had 26 assists on 34 baskets. Four Mavericks players scored double-digit points.

Flagg scored 10 loud points, and Davis had a quiet seven points and seven rebounds. PJ Washington had 14 points off the bench. Jaden Hardy and Max Christie each scored 12 points.

You can’t really take too much out of this preseason game. Heck, you can say that about the entire preseason schedule. But that’s especially the case here. The Thunder only had nine players suit up. Some of them were role players, but were asked to play larger roles with mixed results.

Now, the Thunder get their road back-to-back out of the way. That’s quite the way to start the preseason slate after a three-month offseason filled with championship celebrations. But it was good to see them get back in the groove of things as they get closer to the much-anticipated Opening Night.

Let’s look at Thunder player grades:

Jaylin Williams: B-plus

Taking advantage of the relaxed preseason environment, Williams has probably the biggest storyline out of the first two exhibitions in this road back-to-back. After shedding notable weight this offseason, he has suddenly become a high-volume outside shooter.

Williams finished with 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting, six rebounds and two assists.

All things considered, you have to like what you saw from Williams. He was pushed to the front of the line as arguably the best player. To take advantage of those extra reps and turn in a solid performance against one of the stronger frontcourts in Flagg, Davis and Lively II is a nice prize for suiting up.

After a contract extension this past offseason, the Thunder have clearly loved Williams’ development. He’s carved out a role despite being the third-string center on the depth chart. Being an outside shooter has altered his NBA pathway. An uptick in volume could make him an interesting name to watch.

Cason Wallace: F

After sitting out the first preseason game, Wallace was the sole player who suited up for the second game. Being from the Dallas area, he wanted to show out in front of family and friends. Instead, he went through the growing pains of being a primary ball-handler in a low-leverage environment.

Wallace finished with eight points on 3-of-14 shooting, six rebounds and two assists. He shot 1-of-6 from 3 and went 1-of-2 on free throws. He also had a steal.

A smack in the face to start foreshadowed the type of night Wallace would have. It was a forgettable performance where the 21-year-old faded into the background too many times. Too many missed outside shots and fouls also spoiled any Homecoming vibes.

Entering his third season, this is when NBA players usually make their biggest leap. For Wallace, that could look like being more of a facilitator. He’s shown glimpses over the years, but has never done it at a consistent level. It’s not the best start, but you can’t overreact to one preseason game. Especially considering who else was on the floor.

Ousmane Dieng: C

Considering where it was when he first arrived, Dieng’s confidence level has skyrocketed over the years. It was the 22-year-old who ran the offense and directed his teammates where to go. He was one of the more veteran players who suited up and helped the training camp invitees.

Dieng finished with 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting, seven rebounds and six assists. He shot 1-of-7 from 3 and went 3-of-5 on free throws. He also had two steals.

Dieng was able to do a little bit of everything. His versatility has always been a tantalizing skill. After a few years of developing in the background, you’re beginning to see him produce tangible results. At least on the preseason level against pseudo-NBA competition.

It’s been a solid first two preseason games for Dieng. He’s in the final year of his rookie deal. And with no contract extension in sight, he’s likely auditioning to the rest of the NBA on why they should acquire him and provide a fresh start.

Brooks Barnhizer: B

Taking on the Flagg, Barnhizer did an honorable job against the 2025 No. 1 pick. He kept him second-guessing until he eventually rattled off a few buckets. You can’t ask for much more from the 23-year-old as he was noticeable on the court despite offensive struggles.

Barnhizer finished with 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting, seven rebounds and two assists. He shot 1-of-3 from 3 and went 7-of-9 on free throws. He also had a steal.

The Thunder were active on defense. Barnhizer helped with that with constant movement. You have to like the energy and mojo he played under. While he needs to sharpen some of his technique, the motor is there for him to be a solid defender. Look at the free-throw trips to see that.

This back-to-back was a good opportunity for Barnhizer. Expect him to receive plenty of playing time during the preseason. Once the G League season starts, he’ll be a fixture on the OKC Blue. As always, the jumper will make or break his career ambitions.

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