OKC Thunder: 3 takeaways from statement win over Mavericks

OKC Thunder takeaway No. 3) Thunder looked strong to start the second half

It’s hard not to be happy with the way the OKC Thunder played the Mavericks on Thursday. On the one hand, it was a promising display of dominance from the tip to the buzzer. On the other hand, the Mavericks were without Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.

The game could have been much closer or even completely different had Doncic and Porzingis played. It’s worth noting that the Thunder were without Mike Muscala, Darius Bazley, and Hamidou Diallo. However, it can be argued that neither is as valuable to the Thunder’s long-term success as the Dallas duo is to the Mavericks’.

Regardless, the Thunder performed well without the added help of Bazley and Diallo.

As a team, the Thunder shot 50 percent from 3-point territory. Horford hit four of his five shots from beyond the arc, Dort hit 4-of-7 and Maledon made three of his four. The emergence of the 3-point shooting threat from the Thunder is huge. Since Kevin Durant left, the Thunder have had just one consistent perimeter threat, and that came from Paul George.

Now, the OKC Thunder have multiple.

The Thunder were able to keep their turnovers to a low nine, which is always crucial to success. The Thunder also continued piling up assists, finishing with 25 on the game.

So far, the Thunder are off to a pretty good start in the second half of this NBA season. Whether it stays that way is to be determined.

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The OKC Thunder will be back in action at home against the New York Knicks on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.