Preseason Recap: Thunder 106, Mavericks 92

DALLAS – Before the Thunder left for Dallas on Saturday, Head Coach Scott Brooks covered a number of topics about the preseason opener that would take place a little more than 24 hours later.

"Guys aren't going to play heavy minutes,” he said, “but I want them to play their minutes very hard. … If the game is close at the end, definitely we want to win.”

Fifteen players saw action, 13 scored and the Thunder took control of the game in the final 3:21 of play to defeat the Dallas Mavericks, 106-92, on Sunday night in the preseason opener for both teams. The two teams will meet again at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Six Thunder players logged at least 20 minutes, led by guard Thabo Sefolosha (24:32), and five played in the mid- to high-teens.

While forward Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 21 points – a total he reached despite taking only five shots from the field (he was 13-for-14 from the line) – it was the play of his teammates that ultimately secured the win, especially on the defensive end. The Thunder limited the Mavericks to 38.0 percent shooting from the field; the Thunder shot 56.4 percent.

"Our defense was pretty good," Durant said. "We were making our rotations, helping each other out, and we got to the free-throw line."

Reserve guard Eric Maynor hit two jump shots, including a 3-pointer, in the final five minutes of the game to quiet a furious Mavericks rally. The Thunder led 90-70 entering the final 12 minutes of play, but Dallas opened the final quarter with a 14-0 run and trailed only 93-88 with 5:04 to play. The Thunder defense would surrender just four points the rest of the way.

"Like I told the guys, our effort was good and our thoughts were in the right place," Brooks told The Oklahoman. "Overall, I'm happy and pleased with what we did tonight.”A FEW NUMBERS TO CALL OUT:

-- Ron Matthews | THUNDER.NBA.COM