Thunder-Mavericks rivalry to get 3 national TV games in 2026-27 season

The NBA has announced that the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks will face each other three times on national television during the 2026-27 regular season. This marks the renewal of a long-standing rivalry.

The Thunder, led by players Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams, are one of the most decorated teams in the league. They have already won a championship ring and possess five of the most national TV appearances, with only the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Philadelphia 76ers having more.

The Mavericks, on the other hand, have been performing well and are expected to be a strong postseason team. Rookie of the Year winner Cooper Flagg has had an exceptional season, averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Kyrie Irving is expected to return from a torn ACL injury, further bolstering the Mavericks' lineup.

The first matchup between the two teams will take place on October 28 at 8:30 p.m. CT, when the Thunder travel to Dallas and play on ESPN. The second game on March 8 at 8:30 p.m. CT, where the Thunder host the Mavericks, will be shown on NBC and Peacock. The final game, also on March 17 at 6:30 p.m. CT, will feature the Thunder once again hosting the Mavericks on ESPN.

In contrast to earlier decades, the Thunder are the veteran title contender, while the Mavericks are the up-and-coming team. It seems that the schedule has foreseen this shift, as the two teams will face each other on national television multiple times. Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cooper Flagg are expected to dominate the NBA in the 2020s era.