Monday, the OKC Thunder made a quick pit stop back home to take on the Washington Wizards. They did not disappoint their hometown crowd, as Oklahoma City came away with a 123-105 win over the cellar dweller squad.
Even though the Thunder ultimately won by double digits, the game was surprisingly tight for the majority of the contest, as the opposition was hot from deep to start the game.
Still, they proved to be no match for the Bricktown ballers, as in the second half they would take control and never looked back en route to a commanding victory.
In all games, there are some studs on the court to propel the team to victory, along with some so-called duds that make the task at hand more difficult.
Here are three studs and two duds from this latest win over the Wizards.
Studs and duds from dominant OKC Thunder win over Wizards
Stud: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
A face that is familiar to these lists now, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had another stellar game in the Paycom Center, finishing as the leading scorer for OKC with a whopping 41.
In what was an offensive shootout, the superstar guard would go 14-for-25 from the floor while registering 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks.
This was just another night where he solidified his spot as a top-three player in the association, and helped out his MVP case even more.
There is no other player in the league who can shoot the ball and play defense at the level SGA can, as he is one of the best two-way guards in the league.
He is no doubt the most impactful player in the league, for, without him, this game would have been much closer come the final buzzer.
Dud: Aaron Wiggins
Something happened to this fan-favorite player, and it is not good. Aaron Wiggins has been struggling this year, and it almost seems like he has no role with the squad.
In another disappointing outing, the wing would go cold from deep with only one made three while looking absolutely lost on defense.
Not to mention, he could not take care of the basketball either, finishing with three turnovers in his 14 minutes of action.
With the recent Alex Caruso extension, Wiggins's role on this team could become obsolete, as the veteran does everything he does but better.
He needs to pick up his level of play, or else he could be included in a package for a player like Cameron Johnson come the trade deadline.
Stud: Ajay Mitchell
This was the best performance Ajay Mitchell has put forth in his short NBA career.
This was a night that quieted any rumors or thoughts that Oklahoma City needs a backup point guard, as the rookie looks to have the position covered.
The second-rounder finished with a career-high 16 points while pulling down 12 boards.
This was his first double-double in the league, and we can be sure it is not his last!
On top of these displayed attributes, Mitchell even showcased some good passing skills, dishing the rock to open teammates on numerous occasions.
Still, this was an impressive game to show that he is the future leader off the bench for what is surely becoming a dynasty in Oklahoma.
Dud: Luguentz Dort
Yes, Lu Dort did play some fantastic defense during the game, but what good is defense if you cannot score a single bucket?
The premier perimeter defender would put up a goose egg in the shooting column, missing all six of his shot attempts.
It is one thing if they were contested shots he had to put up, but the majority of them were wide-open ones he couldn't convert on.
Thankfully, this game was not a night they needed him to show up on offense, for, if it was, they would have lost.
Stud: Cason Wallace
The Thunder are better off having Cason Wallace start over Isaiah Joe, and this is something Mark Daigneault has to decide now!
Wallace would continue to show his improvement from last season in the win, dropping 9 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals during his 28 minutes of action.
He would also not turn the ball over a single time, and finish with an impressive +22 on the night.
All around, this is the type of performance any team asks their role players to have every single game.
With more of these games, the Kentucky product will prove to be an asset for the Thunder during the next few seasons.