The Oklahoma City Thunder once again were without their star point guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is still tabbed as day-to-day with an abdominal strain that was once described as a hip flexor and ankle soreness. As a result, the OKC Thunder offense could not keep pace with the Sacramento Kings on Sunday afternoon.
It was once again Isaiah Joe who was the hot hand for the OKC Thunder offense on Sunday. After dropping a career-high 28 points on Friday against the Suns, he nearly matched that total against the Kings.
The Oklahoma City Thunder fell to the Sacramento Kings, 124-115, as the OKC Thunder offense could not keep pace with the electric Kings.
Isaiah Joe blitzed the nets for 24 points, with three assists and a charge drawn. Joe went four for eight from beyond the arc while shooting 54 percent from the floor. The Arkansas product showed his versatility as a scorer in this one. Draining step-back triples, heating up in the mid-range, and even feasting on cuts to the rim.
Jaylin Williams was more impactful than his box score would lead you to believe, going for five points, three rebounds, and two assists while facilitating from the high post for OKC.
Lindy Waters III played in over 30 minutes for the NBA G-League affiliate, the OKC Blue, this morning before playing 16 minutes this evening for the Thunder. Mark Daigneault said he liked how Waters III played for the Blue and wanted to try him for about four minutes tonight.
The Oklahoma State product played so well that those four minutes turned into nearly 17 on his way to 12 points, seven rebounds, and an assist while swiping two steals.
Despite a rough start, Lu Dort turned it around to shoot four for nine from distance pouring in 18 points, pulling in five rebounds, and dishing out an assist.
The Kings kept the Thunder at arm’s length all game, maintaining around a ten-point lead all game and never giving up the lead to the OKC Thunder tonight. Sacramento once swelled a15 point lead that OKC chiseled down to four in the third frame.
These two teams will run it back on Tuesday night at the Paycom Center, which is the first leg of a home/home back-to-back for the Thunder, who will welcome in the L.A. Lakers the next night.