OKLAHOMA CITY — After a slow start saw them trail by as many as 16 points against the Brooklyn Nets, the Oklahoma City Thunder weaponized the 3-ball in the third quarter to take control of the game in a 121-107 win.
Led by Lu Dort, the Thunder shot 8-of-15 from 3 and went on to outscore the Nets 38-20 during the third quarter and flipped a 10-point halftime deficit into an 8-point fourth-quarter lead.
“I thought the group did a great job at halftime just regrouping and taking a deep breath,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said.
The Thunder solidified their comeback win with a 31-25 fourth-quarter advantage.
“We just kinda hung in there long enough for the game to turn and then did a good job at the end of the first half kinda cutting into it,” Daigneault said. “… I thought the most underrated period of that game is when you’re taking body shots and hanging in there and not getting knocked out.”
Outside of their third-quarter barrage from 3, the Thunder shot 3-of-18 from outside in the other three quarters of the game. Overall, the Thunder shot 11-of-33 (33.3%) from 3 in the win.
“They guarded us. That’s a good team,” Daigneault said about the Nets. “… That’s a tough team to beat.”
With the win, the Thunder have won three consecutive games and six of their last seven games. Led by their young quartet, the Thunder continue to declare themselves as a serious playoff contender.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Josh Giddey and Lu Dort combined to score 97 of OKC’s 121 points.
“Those guys did a great job,” Daigneault said.
The new-look Nets were led by the duo of Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson — who were both acquired from the Phoenix Suns in the Kevin Durant trade. Bridges finished with 34 points on 11-of-23 shooting while Johnson finished with 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting.
Let’s take a look at Thunder player grades.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A+
Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Aligning with the Thunder’s night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander overcame a slow start to turn in another immaculate performance.
Story continues
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points on 12-of-24…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/player-grades-thunder-complete-16-035454403.html?src=rss
Author : Thunder Wire
Publish date : 2023-03-15 03:54:54
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