Chapter 1
The backyard battleground of Newport
Chapter 2
The Duke dominance and lottery luck
Chapter 3
Navigating the rookie ruts
Chapter 4
The statement game of October 2026
Chapter 5
Team chemistry and the sophomore leap
Ch 4 · The statement game of October 2026
Glossary
statement game (noun)
A sports matchup in which a player or team performs exceptionally to assert their elite status. On October 28, 2026, Cooper Flagg scored 26 points to lead Dallas past undefeated Oklahoma City.
A sports matchup in which a player or team performs exceptionally to assert their elite status. On October 28, 2026, Cooper Flagg scored 26 points to lead Dallas past undefeated Oklahoma City.
Fun Fact
Gafford's milestone: Mavericks center Daniel Gafford made his first career three-pointer during the Thunder game on his 2,384th shot attempt.
Quiz
Which teammate did Cooper Flagg find for a floater to kick off the Mavericks' decisive 11-0 third-quarter run?
Quiz
How many consecutive games had the Thunder won to start the 2026-27 season before playing the Mavericks?
Quiz
The Thunder had a 15-game winning streak in which calendar month snapped by the Mavericks?
Quiz
What was the final score of the game where Dallas handed Oklahoma City their first loss of the season?
Quiz
Which Mavericks center made his first-ever career three-pointer on his 2,384th shot during this game?
Quiz
How many three-pointers did the Thunder make on 32 attempts during their lopsided loss to Dallas?
Quiz
How many points did Cooper Flagg score to lead the Mavericks to victory over the Thunder?