Oklahoma City got here up just a few stops shy of a street win in Dallas Monday evening, dropping an in depth 121-114 contest to the Mavericks. Despite making extra area objectives makes an attempt, and taking pictures 47.7% in comparison with Dallas’ 41.9%, the Thunder’s defensive effort wasn’t sufficient, permitting Jason Kidd’s workforce broad open triple after broad open triple. For the Mavericks, 22 makes in 54 tries from behind the 3-point line propelled the workforce to victory.
Leading the best way for Dallas was, in fact, Luka Doncic. Doncic’s closing stat line, 38 factors, 11 rebounds and eight assists, was practically a monster triple-double. The craziest half, is that these numbers aren’t far off from his season averages.
The Thunder’s scorching begin to its prolonged street stretch has led to a disappointing shut. Although going 2-for-5 against playoff groups in every convention isn’t dangerous by any means, dropping two straight single-digit video games on the street and, to not point out, ending the journey with three straight losses, can really feel flattening. Some nights, Oklahoma City feels shut however simply not there.
After Jeremiah Robinson-Earl left the sport with an harm, Oklahoma City was much more brief handed within the entrance court docket. The rebounding numbers had been evenly cut up up throughout the board for the Mavs, however successful the battle on the boards 50-to-42 and securing 16 offensive rebounds is what killed the Thunder. Many of occasions these offensive rebounds ended up being kick-out threes to broad open nook shooters.
There had been loads of positives to remove from Monday’s battle in Dallas, although. Outside of the perimeter protection permitting Dallas’ barrage from deep, it was an encouraging sport for a lot of the Thunder’s prime prospects.
Here’s who led Oklahoma City:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander performed a bodily taxing sport Monday evening. Dallas despatched every kind of appears to be like his manner, and he shouldered a great portion of the scoring load by himself. It was a kind of video games for the Thunder star.
SGA totaled a whopping 42 factors behind 14-of-23 taking pictures and 1-of-2 from behind the 3-point line. He went an ideal 13-of-13 on the free throw line. His playmaking capability is retaining the Thunder in each sport at this level.
Josh Giddey
It wasn’t his most eye-popping field rating, however Giddey stayed stable all through the sport. His consistency helped the Thunder down the stretch, and his 3-point jumper appears noticeably improved on open catch-and-shoot alternatives.
On the night, Giddey contributed 14 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, ending 6-of-13 from the ground and 2-of-2 from lengthy distance.
Jalen Williams
Once once more, Oklahoma City’s lottery decide delivered. In prolonged minutes, Williams added 17 factors and 4 assists on an environment friendly 8-of-13 from the ground. His capability to function the offense and discover his spots on the ground, particularly with Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench, was spectacular. Williams clearly has a excessive ceiling, and his play is beginning to demand increasingly enjoying time.
Isaiah Joe
In simply 20 minutes, Joe tallied 12 factors and knocked down 4 3-pointers in seven tries. At this level, he’s the closest factor to a cheat code from lengthy vary. The Thunder haven’t had a sharpshooter as environment friendly as Joe in a very long time, and permitting him to develop as part of Oklahoma City’s core is a very sensible transfer. Joe’s particular taking pictures contact from lengthy vary is an asset for the Thunder transferring ahead.
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