The OKC Thunder hit the road traveling to the East to take on the Washington Wizards who would be battling without Bradley Beal, who entered the League’s Health and Safety Protocols just before tip-off. The Oklahoma City Thunder are seeking their first win in the year 2022, as the Wizards have returned to earth since their scorching hot start.
The Thunder placed Kenrich Williams and Isaiah Roby in the NBA COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols while Vit Krejci and Aleksej Pokusevski missed today’s contest due to being assigned to the OKC Blue, the organization’s NBA G-League affiliate. Theo Maledon, Theo Maledon, Olivier Sarr, and Paul Watson Jr also did not play in this game (coach’s decision). Mamadi Diakite was inked to a ten-day deal hours before tip-off and while he was in D.C. he did not partake in this game. Diakite suffered a hip fracture in the preseason after a fantastic training camp which led to him being cut.
OKC Thunder falls to the Washington Wizards despite offensive outburst, 122-118
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the max point guard and Oklahoma City’s best player, has been in an offensive slump of late. Prompting (far too early) questions about his pairing with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Josh Giddey. Tonight, was a good old fashion SGA game. That sounds weird to type about a player in his fourth season at age 23, but this year has been an experimental year like most of us had our freshman year of college. The Kentucky product has begun tinkering with step-back and side-step threes a part of his game he has crafted for the past two offseason that he finally unleashed in an NBA setting as it has led to an increase in three-point attempts per game and a dramatic dip in shooting percentage.
Tonight, he got back to his old ways taking just two three-point attempts, relentless attacking the rim scoring 32 points while shooting 59-percent from the floor going 50-percent from deep. He got to the line six times, only missing one attempt while dishing out eight assists, and hauling in three rebounds.
Darius Bazley, playing the small ball five, was able to break outscoring 14-points, missing just one non-three-point shot, and missing just one three-point shot (if you eliminate a last-second three-point heavy he was forced into). Bazley, who has struggled mightily this season as a starter but has found some saving grace off the bench, grabbed nine rebounds, dished an assist, and met Corey Kispert at the rim for a huge block.
The OKC Thunder saw six players reach double-figures, Washington matched with five in double-digits including Kyle Kuzma who stepped up without Bradley Beal, chipping in 29-points. The Thunder falls 122-118 and will have to wait until Thursday against the Brooklyn Nets for their next shot at the first win in the year 2022.