OKLAHOMA CITY — Down by three factors with 14.1 seconds left, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an opportunity to tie a high-scoring affair with the Atlanta Hawks.
On a drive to the basket, Gilgeous-Alexander was denied by Dejounte Murray on the primary try. After grabbing the offensive rebound, Gilgeous-Alexander had one other likelihood however missed the second shot.
On an evening when buckets got here simple, Gilgeous-Alexander got here up with a pair of uncommon misses and the Hawks escaped with a 137-132 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I assumed what misplaced us the sport was controllable fundamentals on protection,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault mentioned.
The Thunder scored 132 factors on 53-of-102 (52 p.c) taking pictures and 15-of-34 (44 p.c) 3-point taking pictures. The Hawks scored 137 factors in regulation on 50-of-84 (59 p.c) taking pictures and 11-of-29 (37 p.c) 3-point taking pictures.
The 137 factors are probably the most allowed by the Thunder this season.
The loss drops the Thunder to 23-25 on the season. The Thunder proceed to combat an uphill battle as they squandered one other likelihood to attain a .500 file for the primary time since being 4-4.
Here are three different ideas from the Thunder’s five-point loss to the Hawks.
1. Gilgeous-Alezander, Trae Young face off
Wednesday’s sport was headlined by the battle of fellow star guards from the 2018 NBA draft class.
Trae Young and Gilgeous-Alexander have been each drafted the identical 12 months, as Young went No. 5 and Gilgeous-Alexander went No. 11.
Despite not having the ability to tie the sport late and overcome a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit, Gilgeous-Alexander led the way in which for the Thunder with 36 factors on 13-of-22 taking pictures and 9-of-10 taking pictures from the free-throw line. Gilgeous-Alexander additionally added seven assists and 5 rebounds.
26 of these factors got here within the first half, the place Gilgeous-Alexander recorded a career-high for many factors scored within the first half.
Young additionally had a superb efficiency.
The former Sooner returned residence and gave the group a present, ending with 33 factors on 10-of-20 taking pictures and went 10-of-11 from the free-throw line. Young additionally completed with 11 assists and three rebounds.
“He was on the gasoline. I assumed he performed rather well,” Daigneault mentioned about Young. “…I have a lot of respect for the way he played tonight.”
2. Both groups battle defensively
The Thunder opened the sport in a furry, scoring 43 first-quarter factors. By halftime, the sport was tied at 77 apiece.
By the top of the third quarter, each groups handed the 100-point mark with ease.
While it made for an entertaining basketball sport, it’s seemingly not a recipe for long-term success to permit 137 factors in regulation for the Thunder.
3. Ousmane Dieng returns
After lacking the final six weeks with a wrist fracture, Thunder lottery-pick rookie ahead Ousmane Dieng made his return to the NBA court docket on Wednesday.
It was ironic that Dieng made his return in opposition to the Hawks, the identical group he performed in opposition to on Dec. 5 earlier than breaking his wrist.
In 11 minutes, Dieng completed with 5 factors and two rebounds.
Up subsequent: The Thunder play the second sport of a three-game residence stand in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7 p.m Friday.
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