The defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder are off to a 4-0 start after outlasting the Dallas Mavericks 101-94 on Monday night. Despite a fourth-quarter scare, Oklahoma City showed championship composure behind Isaiah Hartenstein’s clutch play and the steady leadership of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 23 points, while Chet Holmgren posted 18 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks before leaving late with back soreness. Hartenstein sealed the game with two huge buckets in the final minutes, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

“We’ve been through a lot as a team,” Hartenstein said. “We trust each other, and that’s what makes Shai so special he trusts us too. Mark (Daigneault) puts us in these situations every day in practice, so we’re ready for

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