Thunder’s Mark Daigneault gets 100% real on growing pains amid Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren injury absences

After Ajay Mitchell’s career-high 30 points led them to victory in their first game without Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, and All-Star Chet Holmgren, the Oklahoma City Thunder suffered their first regular-season loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks brought head coach Mark Daigneault’s team back to reality, crushing the Thunder in a 120-96 blowout . Without Wallace, Oklahoma City held All-Star Devin Booker to three points on 1-for-7 shooting but struggled to limit Flagg and Kyrie Irving’s offense, and Daigneault tipped his cap after the Thunder’s 26-point loss, per The Oklahoman’s Justin Martinez.