After digging a giant gap early, the Thunder’s protection buckled up down the stretch and allowed Oklahoma City to full the comeback, knocking off the Spurs 119-111 at the Paycom Center.
OKC allowed an alarming 77 factors in the first half, however fully flipped the script popping out of the break. In the final two quarters, the Thunder gave up simply 34 factors and the halftime changes have been evident. Oklahoma City’s inside protection was a lot tighter over the course of the ultimate two quarters, and the youthful Thunder ran in transition.
This was a giant win for the Thunder with out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who missed Wednesday’s sport with a hip damage. Oklahoma City has a protracted highway stretch developing with some very tough opponents on the horizon, so snatching a come-from-behind-win towards a convention foe was nice momentum to tackle the highway.
Here’s who led the Thunder to victory towards the Spurs:
Jalen Williams
Oklahoma City’s lottery choose netted the greatest efficiency of his younger profession on Wednesday. Williams completed the sport with 27 factors on an ultra-efficient 11-of-15 from the ground and 2-of-3 from 3-point vary.
The rookie acquired greater quantity with SGA out of the lineup and took benefit of the alternative. His potential on the offensive finish is obvious, and he appears to add one thing new to his extensive skill-set each time he’s on the ground. With extra minutes, he’ll solely grow to be extra comfy. He seemed like Oklahoma City’s No. 1 possibility on offense Wednesday.
Lu Dort
Outside of an off-night towards Houston, Dort has been in a groove these days. Wednesday was one in every of his finest video games of the season.
The guard contributed 23 factors and 4 assists, shouldering portion of the load together with his backcourt mate out. Even although Dort is thought for his protection, he’s been in double-figures usually these days. He appears to lastly be in rhythm from 3-point vary, the place he drilled 3-of-7 Wednesday night time.
Tre Mann
Mann was lastly in a position to have an environment friendly night time on the ground. Part of that could possibly be attributed to an absence of constant minutes, however Mann has had a couple of probabilities this season and failed to capitalize. Wednesday, he helped the Thunder claw again.
On the sport, he added 16 factors on 7-of-13 taking pictures in 26 minutes of court docket time. Mann is taking pictures simply 38.9% on the season, so Wednesday was positively a step in the proper route.
Josh Giddey
Even although it was an off-night taking pictures for Oklahoma City’s level guard, he was nonetheless a giant half in the Thunder’s win. Giddey recorded a large double-double with 14 factors and 14 rebounds, whereas including 5 assists and no turnovers.
With Gilgeous-Alexander out, Giddey was in a position to discover the sizzling hand and assist orchestrate the offense. He completed the night time a plus-six when on the court docket. 7-of-18 isn’t going to lower it offensively, however the good outweighed the dangerous towards San Antonio.
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