OKC Thunder player grades: Shooting struggles result in loss to Kings
By Ryan Lewis
Truth be told, the OKC Thunder had no business contending for a win on Tuesday night against the Sacramento Kings, but still, they made it interesting in the closing seconds.
The Thunder were horrible in most facets of the game. After shooting 35.7 percent as a team through four quarters, it’s hard to believe the Thunder lost by just four points.
149. Final. 103. 84. 99
When looking at the Thunder’s body of work throughout the season, it’s tough not to feel excited about the team’s future. After all, the Thunder made it interesting in the first half of the season before ultimately throwing in the towel and committing to the rebuild.
There’s plenty of excitement that comes from watching the team take the court, even in the most uncertain of times, and more often than not, we’re left watching one player tear through defenders each game. It’s never consistent, and it’s almost always either Darius Bazley or Luguentz Dort. Still, there have also been breakout games from Theo Maledon, Moses Brown, Isaiah Roby, and honestly, any other player who has worn a Thunder uniform this season.
That brings forth the excitement and allows it to build as we prepare to anoint certain players’ superstars. And then, for one reason or another, it all falls apart, leaving us wondering whether that player actually has what it takes to wear the Thunder uniform.
On Tuesday, it was hard to be excited about any Thunder player other than Gabriel Deck and Jaylen Hoard, and neither has had much of a chance to make this level of play a consistent thing.
From the starters to the bench, the team shot its way out of a win. To hang on the way the OKC Thunder did through four quarters despite virtually giving the game away with every off-target shot speaks more about the Kings’ struggles than the Thunder’s current readiness.
Nevertheless, the Thunder made it interesting down to the final buzzer, and that’s worth something.
With that being said, let’s dive into the player grades from Tuesday’s 103-99 loss to the Kings.