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OKC Thunder beat Raptors at their own game – player grades, Nov 11th

By Tamberlyn Richardson

OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots b/t Raptors forward Chris Boucher (25) and forward Juancho Hernangomez (41) Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots b/t Raptors forward Chris Boucher (25) and forward Juancho Hernangomez (41) Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /
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OKC Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) and forward Kenrich Williams (34) celebrate after Jalen scores against the Toronto Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

OKC Thunder rout Raptors beating them at their own game!

A blow-out victory by the OKC Thunder halted their four-game losing streak to get back into the win column with their fifth win of the season.

It was all OKC from the tip in a game featuring lots of Canadian content (HINT: the top performances have ties to the North) and some franchise history setting along the way.

It became clear immediately this match was going the way of the Thunder as they took the lead in the opening frame and never looked back.

132. 149. Final. 113. 81

In the new era of basketball, no lead is safe not even 20 or 30 point differentials, at least not like they used to be. Still, even in this era, there are nights when it’s obvious one team can’t lose and one can’t win. Balls will careen off backboards right into a player’s hands or bounce favorably and a player who is in a shooting slump or doesn’t typically hit from distance can’t miss.

On Remembrance Day, it was OKC who you knew would win within the first few minutes.

Given the Thunder and Raptors excel in hustle categories and typically both bring a competitive edge I was looking forward to an entertaining battle. I got entertainment, but it came in the form of an easy tip to buzzer victory for the Thunder.

Hey, when Lu Dort’s dropping deep balls including a step-back triple that looked like butter you know it’s going to be a good night. His initial 3-pointer at 7:06 of the first quarter put the Thunder up 11-8 and they quite literally never looked back.

There is much to marvel at and celebrate in the win. The OKC set a franchise record with eight players scoring in double-figures. OKC scored 70 first-half points on a team that prior to this match allowed opponents 106 points per game (ranked fourth).

Entering this match the Thunder scored the second most paint points (55.5) while the Raptors allowed the sixth-fewest paint points (45.0).

Punctuating just how dominant the OKC Thunder were in this match they vaulted to first for PIP scoring and Toronto plummeted to 11th after this one game!

Let’s dive into the starters’ top reserve and opponent performances…

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