OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Thunder used a 36-21 second-quarter advantage to lead them to a 120-109 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
The Thunder shot 46-of-94 (48.9%) from the field. From outside, the Thunder shot 12-of-28 (42.9%) on 3s. The Thunder ate well inside the paint too, outscoring the Mavericks 56-24.
A funny result considering the size difference between both teams.
After being up by 14 points at halftime, the Thunder cruised in the second half, maintaining their advantage to win their second consecutive game.
Without Luka Doncic, the Mavericks’ offense didn’t miss a beat. The Mavericks shot 31-of-73 (42.5%) from the field and went 14-of-39 (35.9%) from 3. That was a surprising result considering how heliocentric the Mavericks’ offense is as it revolves around Doncic.
Christian Wood led the Mavericks with 27 points and 16 rebounds. Spencer Dinwiddie scored 21 points on 6-of-16 shooting and dished out eight assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 19 points.
Outside of that trio though, not much else from the Mavericks cast.
What cost the Mavericks the game was a large shot total difference. The Thunder took 21 more field goal attempts, a massive gulf. Unless the Mavericks were white hot, it would’ve been nearly impossible to make up that difference.
The Thunder will play their first game on TNT in nearly three years when they travel to the Miami Heat on Tuesday while riding a two-game winning streak.
It’s the first time a national audience will be able to watch the Thunder’s young core play since the rebuild began. If the Thunder are going to make a lasting impression, it’ll be beneficial for it to happen in their next game.
Let’s take a look at Thunder player grades.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: A-plus
Without Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander provided the firepower for the Sunday crowd.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 33 points on 11-of-17 shooting and went 11-of-13 from the free-throw line. A ‘cool 33 points’ as Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault described it. Gilgeous-Alexander also added five rebounds and five assists.
Gilgeous-Alexander had a huge third quarter to keep the Thunder afloat and stomp out any chances of a Mavericks comeback win. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting in 12 third-quarter minutes.
Gilgeous-Alexander took most of his shots in the paint. He went just 1-of-3 on non-paint shots, which included just a single 3-point attempt he missed.
The next game could help Gilgeous-Alexander’s All-Star starting chances, as it’ll be televised on national TV. Although it sounds like Gilgeous-Alexander will treat it like any other game.
“To be honest, we haven’t spoke much about it. We just try to carry the good things over every night and leave the bad things in the past,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’ll be on national TV though, it’ll be fun.”
SHAI BEATS THE 3RD QUARTER BUZZER 🚨@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/zXn1MZVudm
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) January 9, 2023
Gritty finish to the third! @OGandE Power Play of the Game https://t.co/EdsK9hz4BK pic.twitter.com/UmG9QnSe2b
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 9, 2023
Play through the whistle! 😤
Built by grit. Backed by tradition.
Vote Shai: https://t.co/2FFNkzy5oU pic.twitter.com/hRgXrzzCFf
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 9, 2023
Josh Giddey: B
An old saying in basketball goes that it doesn’t matter how many points you score, but when you score them.
For Josh Giddey on Sunday, that rang true. In 26 minutes, Giddey finished with 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting, five assists and five rebounds.
Eight of those points came in the fourth quarter when Giddey hit a pair of timely 3s to expand the Thunder’s lead.
The reason behind Giddey playing only 26 minutes was foul trouble. Giddey picked up his fifth foul at the 8:40 mark of the third quarter.
After that, Giddey played 10 minutes of foul-free basketball. Daigneault said after the game he’s comfortable being aggressive with playing guys in foul trouble, citing how you’re essentially fouling them out every minute they’re on the bench.
Daigneault cited someone on the analytical department that first put the idea in his mind a while ago.
“Shoutout to Ezra,” Daigneault said.
This is certainly an unconventional way of thinking about foul trouble. Most NBA head coaches usually err on the side of caution.
Daigneault continues to show he’s not afraid to go away from traditional thinking and is more open to new ideas.
Ball fakes clear space!
The hard work makes it all work.
Vote Thunder: https://t.co/2FFNkzy5oU pic.twitter.com/YSAleNn18S
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 9, 2023
Giddey with the jump float! pic.twitter.com/13XkrfLUHU
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 9, 2023
Cash 💯💰@okcthunder | @joshgiddey | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/HCZiwxwtaV
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) January 9, 2023
Kenrich Williams: B-plus
The Thunder elected to go small by starting Kenrich Williams at center. It paid off. He finished with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting and nine rebounds in 25 minutes.
After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander described Williams as a hooper who fills in whatever role the team needs for that night. Williams said he really appreciates Gilgeous-Alexander calling him that and that it’s a mark of respect for players.
Off the court, Williams has a busy Monday night. TCU — the school he went to — will play Georgia in the college football national championship game. Williams said that he will watch the game at his hotel and hopes for a win.
Williams also said he has a bet with some of the Thunder coaching staff members who went to Georgia, but wouldn’t reveal the details and notes we’ll find out after the game.
Kenrich Williams fakes out Christian Wood for the bucket 🔥
There's a new option to watch the Thunder. Learn More: https://t.co/YioxgSU4nH@okcthunder | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/Z0I61hMnwf
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) January 9, 2023
Lu Dort: C-minus
It was a rough offensive game for Lu Dort, who scored 18 points on 7-of-20 shooting and went 3-of-8 from 3.
Dort especially struggled to finish around the rim: He went 3-of-8 on shots within the restricted area. Dort made up for it on the defensive end: Spencer Dinwiddie struggled with 21 points on 6-of-16 shooting.
Dort had the loudest pop from the crowd though, with a breakaway dunk that gave the Thunder an 18-point lead with under five minutes left to go in the game.
Suffocating defense ➡️ successful offense
Everything we earn, we earn through effort.
Vote Thunder: https://t.co/2FFNkzy5oU pic.twitter.com/XYkCzo0U5e
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 9, 2023
That's a smooth shot! pic.twitter.com/oGwOC2gqNl
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 9, 2023
