Three after three after three after three, and Cason Wallace has left a solid first impression on the OKC Thunder.
Wallace drilled six threes, displayed his prowess on the defensive end, and provided a positive impact on the floor overall to help lift the OKC Thunder to a 91-80 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in their NBA Vegas Summer League opener.
OKC Thunder opens up Vegas Summer League with a massive win over the Dallas Mavericks thanks to solid contributions by Cason Wallace.
Playing his first game in a Thunder uniform, Wallace finished with 20 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals, as his shooting brilliance stood out the most throughout the game.
He was deadly on catch-and-shoot tries, knocking down four of his six treys off a pass — a testament to his shooting chops and his versatility on any offensive lineups — including a three-point bomb from the center line late in the fourth quarter.
CASON WALLACE FROM HALF-COURT 🚨
— NBA (@NBA) July 8, 2023
His SIXTH three of the game... #NBA2KSummerLeague LIVE on ESPN2. pic.twitter.com/bKEltwI8V3
“It was definitely fun, and I’m just glad to be here,” Wallace said. “This moment was great for me, and just gonna keep stacking wins with the guys.”
Dereck Lively II, the original pick of the OKC Thunder before trading up to the 10th slot for Wallace, had four points and five rebounds for the Mavs.
Meanwhile, his counterpart Chet Holmgren finished with 16 points, ten rebounds, and two blocks in a game where he took a backseat from the spotlight as Cason Wallace stole the show.
Unlike in Salt Lake City, the OKC Thunder’s turnovers were reduced to just 16, with Tre Mann, who had 11 points, and five assists, committing the most turnovers in the game with just three.
Ousmane Dieng also showcased his offensive potential, nailing an off-the-dribble three and flaunting his playmaking ability to add 13 points to the Thunder’s ledger, alongside five rebounds and three assists on 3-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.
The OKC Thunder nailed 19 threes on 44 percent shooting compared to a struggling Mavericks side that only made nine triples at a 29 percent clip.
Second-round rookie Keyontae Johnson also played his first game for OKC, adding seven points and six rebounds on 19 minutes of action.
The Thunder will play the Rockets next on July 11th.