Game Grades: OKC Thunder end losing skid against Wizards
By Ivan White
Grading the OKC Thunder starters:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, OKC Thunder: A
The Thunder needed to bounce back, and they were able to lean on their star to get back in the win column.
Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 32 points on 11-of-17 shooting. The guard also added five rebounds and five assists.
While Oklahoma City struggled to get stops all night, Gilgeous-Alexander stepped up on that end. He had three steals and added a block.
But with an 8-of-10 performance from the foul line, Gilgeous-Alexander is still struggling a bit in that area.
Josh Giddey, G, OKC Thunder: B
Nine points on 11 shots would have been a disastrous night overall for Giddey in most games this season. However, he was able to affect the game in other ways, specifically with his playmaking.
As a team, the Thunder were a well-oiled machine when it came to setting up scores. Giddey added nine of the Thunder’s season-high 37 assists.
Add in six rebounds and a couple of steals for the Australian guard, and he had one of the most well-rounded games he’s had this season.
Lu Dort, F, OKC Thunder: C
Recently, Dort has struggled to make his typical impact, and Monday was no different.
With the Thunder giving up 128 to the Wizards, Dort did not make much happen on that end outside of a block. He also finished with four fouls.
Offensively, he could not make anything outside, going 0-of-3 from 3-point range.
Jalen Williams, F, OKC Thunder: A+
Williams tallied his first double-double this season and just the fourth of his career in Washington. And just a bit more work on the glass easily could have given him a triple-double.
Ultimately, he ended with 21 points and 10 assists. His assist numbers got to tick up in the second quarter when he found a near-unstoppable connection with Aaron Wiggins in a two-man game.
His 21 points also came in an efficient fashion. The second-year star shot 9-of-13 from the floor, nailed his only three and both of his free throws.
Chet Holmgren, C, OKC Thunder: A+
As a 7-footer who plays for the Thunder and can handle and shoot, Holmgren has received comparisons to Kevin Durant. As it turns out, he can put 30 on the scoreboard just as easily.
Although he could not surpass Gilgeous-Alexander as the game’s leading scorer, Holmgren put up 31 points while missing only three shots from the floor. Strangely, Washington was uninterested in covering him from beyond the arc as he went 4-of-5 from that range.
The rookie struggled to get any big numbers on the glass, but the Thunder still won the rebounding battle. But he did manage to add a couple of blocks.