Surviving the 30-0 storm: Three Takeaways on OKC Thunder’s crazy win over Mavericks

Jalen Williams once again proves All-Star potential

Jalen Willaims is the type of guy every championship-building squad craves. He can shoot, attack, play off-ball, and defend well. He was the team’s swing army knife in the victory against the Mavericks, and it proved his worth to the team once more. 

Williams top-scored for the Thunder with 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Williams was all over the place, punishing the defenses off the dribble, drilling shots at the midrange, and nailing spot-up threes engineered by OKC’s offense that thrives on cuts, paint touches, and shooting gravity. 

For most stretches of the game, one can argue that he was the best player on the floor for the visiting squad. Williams was a problem for defense throughout the matchup, scoring the go-ahead basket in the final minute after blowing by Luka Doncic’s lackluster perimeter defense for the layup and the lead for good. 

Jalen Williams always gives the defender a different look on his drives. Despite the opposing team's resistance, he is crisp, efficient, and steady. On multiple points of the game, Williams caught defenses napping through different ways, such as driving to the basket, cutting to the rim, at the right rim, or stopping for a midrange jumper while leaning to his left. 

Williams’ performance can swing game results for the Thunder. In this game, he just did.