Winner of the Nets, the Thunder was able to count on its young people to recover from a 16-point deficit before winning (121-107). This is the 6th victory in the last 7 games for the colts of Mark Daigneault, who can only be satisfied with the strength of character and group of his players.
“The most important thing in a game like this is when you’re down 16 points against a team that’s playing with that energy, and the game doesn’t go the way you want it to, to not let it get you down during that period. It’s the key to winning a game like tonight’s.” underlined Mark Daigneault. “We didn’t sink to -25 and we could easily have done that. We hung on long enough for the match to change. Everyone who stepped on the court tonight really helped us in different areas of the game.”.
An eye-catching young guard
With the Thunder thought to be ready to tank with five straight losses after the All-Star Game was cut, players found the resources to get going again. And this while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is spared due to an abdominal problem. Perhaps the onset of pubalgia.
If he was still the great architect of the victory of his team against Brooklyn by scoring 35 points, other young talents are emerging more and more from this group. Jalen Williams (21 years old) and Josh Giddey (20 years old) are thus the two players who stand out the most behind SGA. The rookie has reached a milestone since the All-Star Game cut with averages of 21 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2 steals at 58.5% shooting including 46.7% at 3-pointers!
“He does a great job and what I respect about him is that he is stimulated by competition” praised the Thunder coach about Jalen Williams. “He brings his energy every night and he was already doing that before he discovered the potential he is displaying right now. Earlier in the season, he made some brilliant moves, obviously offensive, but he always gave his all as he did tonight. It’s a very important base for a young player, and he’s still young. He still has a long way to go, but to bring this level of competition that he brings over such a regular duration is really good..
Waiting for Chet Holmgren…
As for Josh Giddey, he shines in the shadow of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and his selflessness and creativity are perfect for leading this group. Author of 15 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists against Brooklyn, the Australian achieved his 4th triple-double of the season, and his 8th in his career. He is only 20 years old…
“I couldn’t put a shot… But as you play matches and you mature, you understand that you have to find other ways to influence the game”.
Whatever the outcome, the season is already more than successful for OKC with the explosion of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who became All-Star, the confirmation of Josh Giddey and the revelation of Jalen Williams. Enough to erase the gloom born this summer after the injury of Chet Holmgren, the 2nd choice of the last Draft.
| Shots | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | bp | Int | CT | party | Points |
| Shai Gilgeous-alexander | 57 | 35.6 | 50.9 | 34.2 | 90.8 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 5.6 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 31.2 |
| Josh Giddey | 63 | 30.8 | 48.5 | 32.2 | 75.7 | 2.0 | 5.8 | 7.8 | 6.2 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 16.2 |
| Luguentz Dort | 61 | 30.2 | 39.6 | 33.5 | 77.5 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 13.8 |
| Jalen Williams | 62 | 29.7 | 52.0 | 34.7 | 77.6 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 13.4 |
| isaiah joe | 60 | 17.8 | 45.7 | 43.4 | 81.8 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 9.0 |
| Dario Saric | 12 | 14.8 | 55.9 | 39.4 | 86.4 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 9.0 |
| Aleksej Pokusevsky | 31 | 21.9 | 44.0 | 37.6 | 63.6 | 1.5 | 3.6 | 5.1 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 8.8 |
| Kenrich Williams | 53 | 22.8 | 51.7 | 37.3 | 43.6 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 8.0 |
| Tre Mann | 58 | 18.2 | 38.8 | 31.5 | 74.0 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 7.9 |
| Jeremiah Robinson Earl | 34 | 20.2 | 45.5 | 32.6 | 81.6 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 7.4 |
| Aaron Wiggins | 56 | 18.9 | 49.8 | 38.0 | 80.0 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 6.7 |
| Mike Muscala | 43 | 14.5 | 43.8 | 39.4 | 79.5 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 6.2 |
| Jaylin Williams | 36 | 17.9 | 44.4 | 41.3 | 71.4 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 5.8 |
| Ousmane Dieng | 25 | 16.4 | 43.8 | 30.4 | 58.8 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 5.7 |
| Darius Bazley | 36 | 15.4 | 44.9 | 40.0 | 55.4 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 5.4 |
| Lindy Waters III | 31 | 12.1 | 39.8 | 37.3 | 83.3 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 5.2 |
| Eugene Omoruyi | 23 | 11.8 | 46.8 | 25.8 | 60.7 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 4.9 |
| Olivier Sarr | 2 | 10.9 | 42.9 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 3.5 |
| Jared Butler | 2 | 9.6 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 |
