After losing to their rivals in the Dallas Mavericks Friday night, the OKC Thunder were looking forward to a relatively easy game against the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets for a Sunday night bounce-back.
Though this game didn't have Oklahoma City at full strength, as Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein were sidelined, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came back from his one-game, injury-induced absence and, as a result, led to a major feel-good showing for the ball club.
Because of these injuries, however, players like Ousmane Dieng and Branden Carlson had to step up and get heavy rotation minutes against Brooklyn. Both of them did not disappoint but were not the headlines of this matchup.
Here are two studs and two duds from the Thunder’s 127-101 victory over the visiting Brooklyn Nets.
Studs and duds from blowout Thunder win over Nets
Stud: Isaiah Joe
Isaiah Joe has had a few impressive games the past few weeks, and this carried over against the little brother of New York.
Joe would finish his night with 24 points while tying his career-high with three-pointers made in a single game (eight).
This game felt like a statement to the fanbase, as he has been the center of trade talks for guys like Cameron Johnson, who, interestingly enough, also had a decent showing himself (15 points) against the league's best defense.
Overall, the wing was impressive on the offensive side and, with more showings like these, could theoretically make the franchise question whether he should be viewed as a must-keep beyond this year's trade deadline.
Dud: Luguentz Dort
After a very impressive shooting stretch and a great game against Dallas, Lu Dort went cold against Brooklyn.
Not scoring a single point, he couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat in the middle of the Pacific. He tried making up for it with his rebounding and passing, but it was tough to see a three-point threat like him just go radio silent (0-for-6).
Thankfully, it was not a game where he was needed to make shots and one where they could have lived without him. The Dorture Chamber was still in effect, however, as he helped force 13 Nets.
Stud: Jaylin Williams
Jaylin Williams would finish his night with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists while splashing home on 66.7 percent from both beyond the arc and the field as a whole.
Acting as the lone center at the moment amid the Thunder's injury woes, the third-year vet has stepped up big time. He played a key role in why the Dallas game was so close and was a major reason why the Thunder always had such a comfortable lead against the Nets.
His three-point shot has improved and he looks more comfortable fighting for rebounds. With more nights like this, he could get some decent rotation minutes when the playoffs come around.
Dud: Dillon Jones
This was a game where Dillon Jones could have proved why he was worthy of being a first-round draft pick, yet he did the exact opposite.
The rookie would come away from the victory with only 6 points and 5 rebounds in a total of 19 minutes of action.
He was the main ball-handler at Weber State last year and stayed an extra season to improve his draft value. Now with the Thunder, he looks clumsy when in possession of the ball and quarterbacking the court. There were also multiple times he almost lost control of his handle after getting past half-court.
He has spent a lot of time in the G-League this season which should only help him develop in the long run. On Sunday, however, it was evident that he still has a ways to go before he can be relied upon in a meaningful manner at the NBA level.