OKC Thunder – Topic: Thunder Podcast, Preseason game 4, OKC battles past Bucks
By Alex Roig
The Topic: Thunder crew deliver their analysis and thoughts on the OKC Thunder preseason finale win against the Bucks and discuss the highlights.
So what happens when you take the competitiveness of a game out from the beginning? Apparently, you end up getting the most competitive OKC Thunder game of the preseason. By the time the opening tip went in the air, the Milwaukee Bucks had already announced that four of their five starters would sit out the game for rest purposes. In addition, a couple of their reserves were out with real injuries.
OKC trotted out their regular preseason lineup, with rookie guard Hamidou Diallo filling in for the concussed Terrance Ferguson. Diallo has impressed thus far in the preseason with his athleticism, defense, and penchant for being in the right place at the right time for offensive rebounds.
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Heading into the season, it was thought that Diallo would probably be a project, spending a lot of his time with the Thunder’s G-League affiliate, the Blue. Instead, a lot like Ferguson last season, it seems like Diallo may be playing his way into some rotation minutes heading into the start of the season.
As for this game, the Thunder started off slow and saw themselves down by three heading into the second quarter. A lot like the Hawks’ game on Sunday, OKC wrestled control of the game in the second quarter, giving themselves a seven point lead heading into halftime. In the second half, much of OKC’s starters were given the night off, and the night belonged to the young bucks (pun intended).
Diallo and 2-way player, Deonte Burton keyed the Thunder’s attack in the fourth quarter as the Bucks mounted a comeback that saw them tie the game at 107 on a Tim Frazier three with 0.9 seconds left. Two 3-pointers and a breakaway dunk by Burton sealed the deal for the OKC Thunder in overtime, as they won going away, 119-115.
OKC ends the preseason 3-1 heading into their opening night match-up against the Golden State Warriors on October 16th.
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