OKC Thunder played a butterfly game against the L.A. Lakers

The OKC Thunder, on the second night of a back-to-back against the projected title contender Los Angeles Lakers, snapped their four-game losing streak with a 26-point comeback in the second half to defend their home floor against the man who built the arena, Russell Westbrook.

The Oklahoma City Thunder fought, clawed, and inched their way back into this game little by little on the back of their max contract star SHAIVONTE AICIAN GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER, Josh Giddey, and third-year forward Darius Bazley. This was a butterfly game for the fanbase.

OKC Thunder win a butterfly game for the fans

Butterfly game, what do I mean by that? Wednesday was a game that if you are a Thunder fan in the arena, sitting on the couch, or even listening on the radio, as the OKC Thunder mounted what was tied for their largest comeback in team history, you could not help but smile and have butterflies in your stomach.

This was not veterans doing what veterans do and dragging the young pups to a comeback win that ultimately does not matter long-term, no. This was every young piece on this Oklahoma City Thunder roster working together, playing exceptional, and dominating the oldest roster in the league, the old guard of the NBA. It was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Darius Bazley, Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, all coming together, growing together, and getting an impressive win.

However, it did not stop there. On the sidelines, the organization’s second-year head coach, Mark Daigneault outdueled an NBA Champion bench boss, Frank Vogel.

For the first time all season, and the first time since March 2020, the Paycom Center was alive. The energy in the stadium was felt by all, even coming from a screen or a Terrestrial radio dial. A star was born, hope was given, and a chapter was closed all on one Wednesday night in Bricktown.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominated this game during the OKC Thunder comeback. The new face of the franchise, facing off with the man who built this city, this organization, this building, poured in 27-points, nine rebounds, five assists on just two turnovers.

With passes that will make your head spin, step-back threes that leave your jaw on the floor, and a simple shrug at his brilliance, SGA’s star was born against the Lakers. While he was not as efficient tonight as we are used to seeing, the Thunder traded in his shiny field goal percentage for his aggressive nature to drag his franchise back into this game after being buried in the first half.

Yet still, self-less Shai returned under a minute to go in the game as he is being doubled teamed, he uses himself as a decoy to let 19-year-old rookie, the sixth overall pick, Josh Giddey run the show and facilitate the offense to get the Thunder a needed clutch time bucket. The balancing act of aggressive shot selection with selfless plays is a delicate dance that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gyrates gracefully.

Josh Giddey was stellar, as he has been all season. Against the Lakers, he logged his first career double-double, pouring in 18-points, ten assists, a steal, and two rebounds. Giddey put up an impressive 53-percent from the floor, 40-percent from three, and a constant raining down of floaters that will influence the way youth basketball is played in Oklahoma for the next decade.

The most impressive part of this historic comeback was Darius Bazley. If you check fan forums he is by far the most (unjustly) hated player in the organization, no matter the improvements he makes, no matter the number of improvements I try to point out through all of this, it is never enough. Fans genuinely, even during the game before Bazley heated up, wanted him out of town!

The third-year player with still limitless upside, athleticism, and backing within the organization, had the best game of his career against the premier Lakers. Posting 20 points, two assists, six rebounds, four steals, and a block last night all on fantastic shooting splits, 57-percent from the floor, and four of eight from three while not getting to the line against L.A.

There will not be many nights like this during the 2021-22 NBA season, it is okay to acknowledge that. But spent the next few days reflecting on how special this moment was. The crowd was rocking like old times, it was against the man who built our city, our organization, our Thunder, and it was a statement. We are going away. We are not fading away. The fans will remain through this rebuild, and we can only hope to come out on the other side better than the first era, which is an extremely tough task. Don’t let people tell you OKC can not continue to support an NBA no matter the stage of the on-floor product, we can and we will.