Grading Thunder players in comeback victory over Magic
Grading the Oklahoma City Thunder starters
. G. Oklahoma City Thunder. SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER. A
It seems like every game Shai Gilgeous-Alexander decides that he’s going to be the best player on the court that game, and goes out there and does just that. In this game, SGA posted a game-high 34 points to go along with six assists, four rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. He also shot 12-of-15 from shots inside the three-point line, which is even more impressive considering a lot of those shots were off-dribble mid-range jumpers. SGA has been playing at an MVP level and this game is just another great outing for his all-star or even all-NBA campaign.
Oklahoma City Thunder. JOSH GIDDEY. C+. . G
Josh Giddey finally returned from the ankle injury he suffered over a week ago against the Timberwolves. As exciting as it was to get Giddey back in the lineup, he struggled to get adjusted early. He only scored seven points and shot 3-of-12 from the field. However, even in what seemed like an off-game for Giddey, he still dished out 10 assists.
B. . G/F. Oklahoma City Thunder. LUGUENTZ DORT
Lu Dort had the tough task of guarding praised rookie Paolo Banchero in this game, and even though Banchero had the massive height advantage, Dort held his own. Offensively, Dort struggled from the field shooting just 5-for-16 from the field. However, he knocked down three shots from deep, including the dagger that sealed the game for the Thunder. Dort’s defense is so important for this squad and he’s one of a few undersized players that can guard multiple positions, with this game as the prime example.
. G/F. Oklahoma City Thunder. JALEN WILLIAMS. C+
In his first career start, Jalen Williams was relatively quiet. He added six points and two steals on the night but otherwise did not do too much. He shot 3-for-7 in his 22 minutes of play for the Thunder.
F/C. Oklahoma City Thunder. JEREMIAH ROBINSON-EARL. B+.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl was huge in this game, adding 11 points on an efficient 5-of-8 shooting. One of the main complaints about Robinson-Earl early on in his career has been his struggles finishing at the rim, but JRE made a couple of tough finishes over defenders in this game. He recorded a plus/minus of +22 for the Thunder, making a positive impact on both sides of the floor.