1 stud, 1 dud from Thunder’s astounding Game 1 win over Mavericks

Stud: Aaron Wiggins

At this point, every Thunder fan knows this very well -- Aaron Wiggins saved basketball for Oklahoma City.

The third-year pro was stellar in every minute he was a part of in Game 1. He delivered in his defensive possessions, using his strength and active hands to blow up the Mavericks’ offensive plays. 

Wiggins finished the game with 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting in just 24 minutes of action. It was an efficient display that epitomized his value as a bench spark for the deep-rostered Thunder. 

The former 55th pick of the 2021 NBA draft opened so much up in the west’s number-one seeds’ offense, making three out of his four three-point attempts, while his off-ball activity coupled with superb offensive awareness helped the Thunder pick apart the Mavericks’ defense.

He was impactful in other areas, too, as he posted five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block, making the most of his minutes on the floor. 

However, Wiggins’ impact cannot be detected through numbers. He held his own against any Mavericks player thrown at him, while being a stellar cutter on the other end, stimulating the Thunder’s free-flowing offense. 

Wiggins showed in Game 1 that any player on the Thunder roster can impact the game and make a difference. For all he did, he proved that he was a real stud for the team.