Oklahoma City Thunder wrap up their preseason in San Antonio

The Oklahoma City Thunder will wrap up their six-game preseason slate tonight in San Antonio. Taking on the Spurs, who project to be the worst team in the NBA. OKC bench boss Mark Daigneault talked about this being an intentionally long preseason, saying the NBA gives teams the option of at a minimum three games, and of course up to the six-game slate OKC elected for. Daigneault mentioned these game reps are more valuable than practice for a young Thunder team.

• Matchup: San Antonio vs Oklahoma City
• Location: San Antonio, Texas
• Time: 7 p.m. CT
• WATCH: Bally Sports Oklahoma
• LISTEN: WWLS Sports Animal

Sophomore guard Josh Giddey mentioned how these six games will benefit the team in the long run in gaining chemistry together on the floor for the 82-game marathon of a season. While records do not matter in the preseason, OKC does enter this game 4-1, while the Spurs sit at 1-3 averaging 19 fewer points per game than the Thunder.

The Oklahoma City Thunder wrap up their preseason slate with a matchup against San Antonio, what to watch for in this matchup

The OKC Thunder have already made it known Mike Muscala will miss the preseason with an ankle injury, or at least Mark Daigneault said he did not expect the veteran big man to play. Kenrich Williams is dealing with a groin injury that the team wants to monitor closely. Those two do not appear to be playing, but we will hear from Mark Daigneault before tip-off.

Of course, Chet Holmgren is out for the season with a foot injury, but the Oklahoma City Thunder have “hope” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can play in the team’s regular season opener in six days if he is that close to returning could he play in this game? Time will tell.

So what should you watch for in this preseason finale?

The Rookies

Ousmane Dieng, Jalen Williams, and Jaylin Williams have been impressive this preseason. Dieng, who OKC traded three first-round picks for to select at pick 11 of the 2022 NBA Draft, has been stellar on the defensive end and with each passing game looks more comfortable on offense.

Jalen Williams, the 12th overall pick, continues to climb into the hearts of Thunder fans just as he climbed up draft boards at the NBA combine. Williams provides good defense while being a versatile offensive weapon. So far his preseason he has done it all, drawing charges, swiping steals, scoring in double-figures, and even logging a 13-assist game. How does he put his final mark on his resume before the opening night rotation gets set?

Josh Giddey

I mean, what can’t Josh Giddey do? And before you chuckle to yourself for muttering “shoot” while reading this, the second-year 20-year-old guard is shooting 50 percent from deep on three attempts per game over these five preseason games. With improved dribbling, rim finishing, and defense plus his continued elite passing ability he has been impressive to watch.

Aleksej Pokusevski

Much like the young rookies trying to prove themselves, Aleksej Pokusevski would love a strong finish to put a bow on his impressive preseason. While Pokusevski is entering year three, people forget he is just 20 years old.

This is the first time since being drafted in November of 2020, that Pokusevski has looked like a comfortable and actual NBA-caliber player. He is no longer trying to do too much, it appears he has less pressure on himself to become this “unicorn” and is more comfortable with the idea of just being a “connector” as Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault described it.

Poku has found himself in the starting lineup more often than not this preseason, could he slot in with the first five in Minnesota on Wednesday? Who knows, but a strong close to the preseason puts an exclamation point on the best stretch of basketball we have seen from the young forward.

What are you looking forward to in this final preseason game?