There was no surprise in Washington, where the visit of the Thunder ended in a complete spanking with more than 40 points difference at the finish, a final score which fairly well reflects the difference in level between the two teams.
As is often the case against the big guys, Washington didn't last more than one half. Author of a 3-pointer and a dunk on the counter-attack, Bilal Coulibaly still managed to show himself in the first 9 minutes of the match, struggling alongside Carlton Carrington and Jordan Poole to tie with OKC . The Frenchman also took advantage of his stature to hinder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, going so far as to counter him.
At 21-21 when Bilal Coulibaly left, OKC immediately took off, with SGA once again free from any movement, and who offered himself a 2+1, a 3-pointer and a pass decisive for Isaiah Joe's 3-pointer, actively contributing to the Thunder's 16-3 concluded by Jaylin Williams' 3-pointer to end the first act 12 lengths ahead (25-37). Mark Daigneault's men were able to proceed without a hitch afterwards, limiting the Wizards to 18 points in the second quarter in order to increase their lead, this time with Aaron Wiggins, Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein to drive the point home from the break (43 -67).
Coulibaly floats
The 9-0 passed by OKC upon returning from the locker room thanks to the SGA-Dort-Williams-Hartenstein quartet confirmed the trend of the first half. In this ordeal that presented itself, Bilal Coulibaly further brightened the evening for Wizards fans with a new dunk in transition and a big counter on Isaiah Hartenstein. Alexandre Sarr also put his scotch on SGA, but the spark was short-lived, Jalen Williams quietly increasing the gap to +30 from the penalty line (53-83).
The Thunder knew how to remain serious until the end, and Mark Daigneault took the opportunity to please the players at the end of the bench in the fourth quarter like the return of Alex Ducas, who celebrated with the entire bench when he scored the first basket of his NBA career, a 3-pointer. At the end of a fourth quarter that looked like an ordeal for the Wizards and their fans, Washington finished at -41, losing 136 to 95.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
Aaron Wiggins is having fun. The back is showing himself more and more to his advantage this season and was able to confirm this night by delivering his best game of the season, finishing 23 units behind SGA's 27. Aaron Wiggins was thus the symbol of a collective which performed well with nine players at 7 points or more. In summary: another day at work, and not the most grueling of all for the Thunder.
Open house operation. Washington's season, dead last in the Eastern Conference with the worst record in the entire NBA, is turning into a nightmare. We do not know to what extent the players have given up, but this indicator is still cause for concern: this is in fact the third time in four games this week that the Wizards have lost by conceding 135 points or more. After taking 135 points against the Rockets on Tuesday, then 138 against Chicago on Friday evening, it was Luguentz Dort's teammates who closed this “open house” week with an outing at 136 points…
Kyle “Houdini” Kuzma in his works. The leader of the Wizards showed his magical ability to disappear from the radar… We simply didn't see him in the match which he started at 0/9 shooting to finish with 6 points at 2/12 shooting including 0/ 6 3-pointers, 2 rebounds, 3 lost balls for a +/- of -40 in 30 minutes wandering the field. Unworthy of his rank.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
