DALLAS — Luka Doncic shouted and shook his head, trudging back toward the Dallas Mavericks’ bench.
For the third time in Dallas’ first five games this season, the 23-year-old superstar missed what would’ve been a game-winning shot in the final seconds of regulation, this time a fadeaway jumper from the right high post after crafty isolation moves against Thunder defender Lu Dort.
Doncic’s dismay only grew from there.
In a 117-111 overtime loss Saturday night to the Oklahoma City Thunder in American Airlines Center, the Mavericks blew a 16-point lead in the last 4:14 of regulation to end the front half of this weekend back to back with their most disappointing defeat yet.
Doncic tallied a triple-double for a second consecutive game: 31 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in 40 minutes.
But his scoring efficiency slid to its worst mark of the season (8 of 23 from the floor and 0 of 6 from three), and the Mavericks appeared disjointed and inconsistent throughout long stretches against a shorthanded, rebuilding Thunder squad.
“That’s on me,” Doncic said. “I didn’t lead the team. I didn’t make shots, and you know, that game’s on me. I didn’t do what I needed to do to win.”
Dallas trailed entering the fourth quarter Saturday (72-71) the first time this season, but the second unit, led by Spencer Dinwiddie, Christian Wood and Josh Green appeared to erase the disadvantage quickly.
Dallas opened the final period on a 19-5 run with a steal-and-score three-point-play from Green, a Tim Hardaway Jr. 3-point swish after a scrambled possession and a few strong Wood finishes in the paint as the biggest highlights.
The Mavericks led by 16 points (97-81) with 3:57 remaining, and many fans exited the lower bowl, perhaps looking to beat traffic with the Mavericks seemingly assured of beating the lowly Thunder.
Not so fast.
Fans had clammored for Wood to receive more playing time -- with Doncic and late in games -- after a strong offensive start to his Dallas tenure, but in his first clutch experience with the Mavericks, Oklahoma City closed the fourth quarter on a 17-2 run.
Reserve guard Isaiah Joe tied the game at 99 on a 3-pointer with 15.8 remaining, forcing the Mavericks to call timeout and advance the ball past half-court.
“We left CWood out there with that group,” Kidd said, “and it didn’t go well on either end.”
The Mavericks blew fourth-quarter leads in losses to the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans in the first week of the season. They needed overtime Thursday to recover from a late lapse against the Brooklyn Nets.
Kidd hoped his team had learned how to overcome early lapses to maintain consistency down the stretch, and Doncic liked the final-look execution this time.
Dorian Finney-Smith threaded an inbound pass to Spencer Dinwiddie, and then Dinwiddie fed the ball to Doncic.
The 23-year-old faced a one-on-one matchup against Dort, whom a couple possessions earlier had fouled him with an arm to the face, which all Mavericks clamored for officials to review for severity.
But Doncic didn’t get his way then in a scenario that would have granted the Mavericks an extra possession inside the final minute, if ruled flagrant.
Nor did he on the final shot.
Doncic worked isolation dribbles to the right high post against Dort, but he felt the attempt veer left as he released.
“Right now, I’m just sucking at shooting the ball,” Doncic said. “Can’t make nothing, so probably (should’ve gone) into the lane next time, but I think it was a good shot and one that I’m capable of making.”
The Thunder didn’t slow from there.
One game and two days after the Mavericks pounced early in overtime to beat the Nets, Oklahoma City opened the extra period with similar force, including another 3-pointer from Joe to extend its lead to eight points (111-103) with 1:12 remaining.
Doncic scowled when he fouled out with 17 seconds left, barely raising his hand for high-fives as he walked down the bench.
The Mavericks didn’t play Saturday at full strength, resting center JaVale McGee on the front end of the back to back and starting Dwight Powell in his place.
That the Thunder were also shorthanded without standout second-year guard Josh Giddey (right ankle sprain) and No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren (right foot surgery) likely just compounded the Mavericks’ disappointment.
No time to wallow.
A few minutes before tipoff, Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley walked through the bowels of AAC with young standout Franz Wagner and a few of his players, already in town for a Sunday night matchup against Dallas.
Mosley, a seven-year assistant under former coach Rick Carlisle, received warm greetings from almost every person he walked past, from team staff members to arena security.
But the Mavericks won’t look to be so friendly Sunday in hopes of avenging their worst loss of the season against another rebuilding franchise.
