Game grades: OKC Thunder fall to Kings in In-Season Tournament
By Ivan White
Grading the OKC Thunder’s best bench performer and best King:
The Thunder’s bench had its fair share of issues in Sacramento, but Isaiah Joe gave the team a spark when it needed it most. Joe finally got on the board as the Thunder trailed by double figures in the middle of the third quarter.
In the final minutes of the third quarter, Joe nailed two 3-pointers and helped swing the momentum in Oklahoma City’s favor. While he finished only 3-of-9 from the field, he was a valuable decoy.
As he typically does, Joe helped clear the lanes from drivers even when he failed to hit his shots. His final make was at another significant point for the Thunder.
After the Kings hit some outside shots and built up the lead again early in the fourth quarter, Joe nailed another shot from deep to get back within eight and help the Thunder get back on track.
The Thunder kept it close throughout the night in Sacramento, but they lost it in the first quarter. Huerter played a significant part in that early debacle for the Thunder.
Huerter finished with a team-high 28 points, scoring 15 in the first quarter. Huerter shot 6-of-8 from the field and poured in three first-quarter 3-pointers.
He is on his way to four makes from outside and three steals. Huerter also made one of the biggest shots for the Kings. With just more than two minutes left, Huerter nailed a shot from beyond the arc after Gilgeous-Alexander had cut the lead to five.
The OKC Thunder never got that close again, and the Kings won.