By Joel Bartilotta, RotoWire
LAS VEGAS – The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 90-76, in the Las Vegas Summer League at Cox Pavilion on Saturday.
The game wasn’t as close as the score indicates. Oklahoma City pulled away in the second quarter, outscoring Brooklyn, 30-13. The Thunder led by as many as 30 in the second half, never relinquishing a double-digit margin. Only a late run when the game was no longer in doubt made it respectable for the Nets.
The Thunder dominated the boards, outrebounding the Nets, 57-38. Brooklyn grabbed only three offensive rebounds. The Nets were also held to just 34 percent shooting from the field and 22 percent from 3-point range while the Thunder connected on 41 percent of their shots.
Hamidou Diallo led the Thunder (1-1) with 19 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Fellow reserve Deonte Burton scored 13 points. Daniel Hamilton finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals, and Dakari Johnson totaled 11 points, six rebounds and five assists.
The Nets (0-2) were led by Theo Pinson, who had 16 points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks. James Webb III finished with 12 points and six boards, and Yuta Watanabe led the bench with 13 points, five rebounds, two steals and four blocks.
Both teams return to action on Monday, with Oklahoma City playing the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn facing the Minnesota Timberwolves.
