OKC Thunder player grades from revenge win versus Mavericks

OKC Thunder starting lineup grades:

With Darius Bazley out the starting five was tweaked and offered two rookies who took full advantage of their opportunity.

It wasn’t quite the night Luguentz Dort was expecting without Luka Doncic playing. Lu still brought the defensive energy and the time off served him well as he filled up the stat sheet posting 14 points, five rebounds, and two assists.

Notably, when Dort gets rest his offense benefits as witnessed by his efficient line of 14 points on 4 of 7 shots from the perimeter and 2 of 2 from the stripe.

I’ll never tire of witnessing players run into him and as he remains standing that opponent falls over as if he’d run into a wall. And it’s frequently followed by a dazed look of confusion.

While this team is uber fun with lots of candidates who could fill the role of SGA’s sidekick the obvious choice (at least for the narrator) is Dort. He’s become as essential to the Thunder as SGA based on leading the defense and the energy he infuses that clearly motivates his teammates.

The surprise of the night was Darius Bazley was out since he wasn’t listed on the pregame NBA injury report. Just prior to the game we learned Baze is dealing with a shoulder injury. In his stead, rookie Aleksej Pokusevski got the tap having just returned from the G-League bubble and run with the OKC Blue.

Although his shot is clearly still a work in progress you have to love the swagger the youngster plays the game with. In fact, the stint in the bubble seems to have buoyed his confidence.

The 4 of 11 shooting is actually an improvement from his earlier varsity appearances. There is room for optimism given he did connect on two of his six 3-point attempts  (and two of the 12 total amassed over 18 appearances) and he was perfect from the line (4 of 4).

The risk-reward of Poku’s length is on full display with him grabbing eight rebounds (3 offensive boards) along with two blocks. He’s also an unselfish player with great instincts evidenced by his two assists.

I know at times he looks like a colt taking his first steps but there is much to be excited about when it comes to Aleksej Pokusevski and how he’ll develop in the OKC Thunder system.

This Al Horford effort was the perfect audition for potential suitors. All night he was the reliable partner to Gilgeous-Alexander. Horford came one rebound shy of the double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds. In addition, he added two assists, one steal and two blocks.

His impact was felt all over the hardwood often in ways not showing up on the box score. Those ‘other things’ will be what trade partners will be enthused by whether it was setting a great screen or the hockey pass that led to the assist or boxing out under the basket so a teammate could grab the rebound.