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On Wednesday as New Orleans Pelicans guard Devonte’ Graham’s 61-foot prayer banked in off the glass and in, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doubled over in disbelief. He had just seen his own incredible 30-foot, game-tying 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left thwarted in a most cruel and unlucky fashion.

Instead of stewing on it for three days and sulking over his misfortune, Gilgeous-Alexander and his Thunder teammates got back to work in a sharp, focused practice on Friday, held each other to their normal high standards and got themselves ready to finish out the homestand against the LA Clippers on Saturday.

“It's an NBA skill to be able to be fully present and invested in the competition and when you do that, the outcome becomes very emotional because you're really trying to compete to win and you're playing the scoreboard,” said Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. “Once you do that and the game ends you need to be able to live in that emotion for the rest of that night and be able to move forward and learn.”

The Thunder didn’t know that they’d be presented with the same situation with the need to execute once again but prepared for it with the same level of professionalism. On Wednesday, the Thunder trailed by 4 with 38.8 seconds remaining. On Saturday, it was a 4-point deficit with 33.8 seconds to go and again with 17 seconds remaining, but this time, when Gilgeous-Alexander sidestepped to his right and buried another three-ball, there was no time left on the clock.

For the second-straight game, the Thunder had the wherewithal and discipline to execute in crunch-time. OKC got a quick two on a layup by Lu Dort, who finished with a game-high 29 points on 12-of-19 shooting, with 25.8 seconds to go, then again from Gilgeous-Alexander with 10.4 seconds remaining. On the defensive possessions in between, the Thunder trapped and tried for steals first before fouling, and on the second such possession Daigneault’s group caught a break and jumped on it – the Clippers passed the ball to forward Justise Winslow, who was just 3-for-6 on free throws all season and is a career 64 percent shooter from the free throw line. Gilgeous-Alexander fouled Winslow immediately to put him on the line.

“We executed everything we needed to down the stretch,” said forward Josh Giddey.

“It’s a good example of the team learning the lessons and applying them forward and you can’t do that if you’re dragging your emotions into the next day,” said Daigneault.

Winslow missed both free throws, and Gilgeous-Alexander grabbed the rebound on the second miss, staying put and immediately calling timeout instead of starting to rush the ball up the floor – applying a lesson from a late-game situation earlier in the season against Washington. In the timeout, Daigneault went to a play on the Thunder’s last-second menu – one that required the same type of awareness OKC got on Wednesday when it tied the game against New Orleans.

Forward Kenrich Williams curled just above Mike Muscala and then cut sharply into the corner right in front of the Thunder bench as Josh Giddey surveyed the scene as the inbounds passer. Muscala’s defender froze on Williams’ cut for just enough time to free the Thunder center up for the catch at the 3-point line.

As Giddey’s pass entered into Muscala, Gilgeous-Alexander set a back-screen on LA’s Nicolas Batum, forcing a switch as Lu Dort went sprinting towards the rim. Batum was out of position, leaving an easy lob from Muscala delivered right to Shai’s sweet spot on the floor – out top with some momentum going to his right. Each one of those tiny details had to occur to give Shai the time and space for one dribble and a big sidestep. And after all that work, it was in a snap that the ball was up and out with no Clipper close enough to even contest the shot.

“I knew where I caught it was perfect for my comfort-zone shot I want to shoot,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 18 points in the game.

“I don't know how many times I've seen Shai work on that shot before practice and after practice,” said Dort.

The 28-footer splashed through the net at the exact moment the horn blared, the red lights flashed around the scoreboard and the clock struck zero, giving the Thunder a 104-103 victory over the Clippers, but also an organizational win in resilience. To be able to bounce back after a stinging loss to Pelicans where OKC executed just as precisely late in the game and then to do it again 72 hours later takes some serious mental toughness.

“Competition is joyous. It’s heartache,” said Daigneault. “That’s what happens when you pour yourself into it. Our team poured ourselves into the game tonight.”

Now, the Thunder heads to Memphis, the scene of its record-setting 73-point loss on December 2nd. It’s a defeat the team has worn fully, publicly stating that it will be part of their story as they all grow together. Instead of running from that result, the Thunder has been resolute in walking the intended course it laid out at the beginning of the season with their heads held high. And just like it did between Wednesday and Saturday with its crunch-time resolve, the Thunder will have to again wash out that bitter taste with the same ingredients it always does – hard work, diligence and respect for the process of improvement.

“It’s the game of basketball: ups and downs. The last one (against the Pelicans) was tough, but I’m sure (the Clippers) probably thinking this one is tough,” said Gilgeous-Alexander on Bally Sports Oklahoma in the immediate aftermath of his game-winner on Saturday. “We’ll ride the high for tonight, but tomorrow we gotta get back to work.”

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Shai’s Buzzer-Beater a Show of Thunder’s Mental Resolve

The dust has settled what was likely the most unbelievable finish fans will witness at an NBA game all season long. Everyone has replayed the highlights of the final 4.5 seconds of Wednesday night’s Thunder game inside Paycom Center against the New Orleans Pelicans: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander evading a would-be foul, launching both himself sideways and the ball upwards towards the rim simultaneously for a game-tying 30-foot three-pointer, then New Orleans’ Devonte’ Graham hoisting a 61-foot prayer from beyond half court that banked in at the buzzer.

Because of that shot the Thunder fell 113-110, but there were moments inside the game that led to that stunning and delirious conclusion. It might have been a ho-hum 5-to-10 point final margin if not for the extra efforts and real-time development that put the Thunder in position for overtime and set up an ending that no one who watched will be able to forget for years to come.

There was rookie two-way forward Aaron Wiggins getting the start in place of an injured Lu Dort – taking on the assignment of guarding Graham for most of the night and helping hold the explosive point guard to just 4-of-13 shooting, including 0-for-4 inside the arc, before that final Hail Mary shot. Wiggins was springy, saving a loose ball and throwing down a putback dunk right over Pelicans 7-footer Jonas Valanciunas. After not playing in the Thunder’s previous five games, Wiggins was ready for action in his second career start and showed continued growth as a defender and as a more balanced offensive option.

Another rookie, Tre Mann, also dazzled in the first half, cutting back door on the baseline and finishing a one-handed flush off a bounce pass from fellow first round pick Josh Giddey. One possession later, Mann buried a catch-and-shoot three at the top of the key to beat the shot clock. In addition to fighting around screens on defense, scrapping for rebounds and dishing out 4 assists, Mann found time during that pre-holidays game to put his defender, Tomas Satoransky, on ice skates as he dribbled from right to left hand between his legs, then darted forward through the lane for a lefty layup with his man left only to stare as he soared.

The two teams battled throughout the second half, as this game featured 14 ties, 15 lead changes and no lead larger than 12 points for either side. The Thunder’s bench, which doubled up New Orleans’ to the tune of 52-26 in scoring, got bursts from all over, but one of the most underrated moments came at the end of the third quarter, when Théo Maledon checked in for a total of 32 seconds.

After playing 30 minutes earlier in the day in a win for the Thunder’s G-League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, Maledon had enough juice left to make an extra effort hustle play to keep an offensive rebound alive amongst much taller players. His tap out resulted in a corner three by Kenrich Williams right before the quarter buzzer sounded, giving OKC a lead heading into the final frame.

“For a guy that's like trying to fight his way back (into the rotation), it's been really impressive readiness and professionalism,” said head coach Mark Daigneault of Maledon.

Williams went 5-for-6 from deep in the game, burying one of those in the fourth quarter on a second chance snapped up by a diving Darius Bazley, and chipped in 17 points to lead the reserves.

“When guys are hustling like that, all of that energy comes back to you,” said Williams. “I appreciate those guys finding me tonight for the 3-ball.”

Up to a remarkable 42.3 percent from 3 on the season, Williams and his bench mate Mike Muscala continue to steady the second unit every night. Muscala scored 16 points, including six in a row on back-to-back possessions, to keep the Thunder within one possession early in the fourth when he drew fouls on two different 3-point attempts from the same spot on the floor.

In the final minutes, it was Giddey manipulating and slipping a pass to Bazley on a quick roll to the rim, accentuating the Australian’s fourth game of at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists this season and also rewarding Bazley for sticking with it despite taking just two shots all game prior to that.

Pelicans’ All-Star forward Brandon Ingram scored on three straight possessions, on hard drives to the rim and a midrange jumper, before Gilgeous-Alexander banked in a three to keep the Thunder within striking distance. With 5.6 seconds left and the Thunder down by three, Gilgeous Alexander tried to attack but was wrapped up quickly and fouled – New Orleans didn’t want to even give OKC a chance to tie the game. The Thunder’s leader and point guard coolly knocked down both free throws, part of a perfect 9-for-9 night for him personally and a 19-for-19 mark for the team in the game.

On the ensuing inbounds play for New Orleans, the Thunder’s defense was so tight that it forced the Pelicans to call their final timeout. So with 4.5 seconds left, the Thunder was the team with the ability to advance the ball up court. With the presence of mind to recognize that the Pelicans would likely try to intentionally foul again, Gilgeous-Alexander deftly used an escape tactic out top to avoid the call and flicked up his incredible 30-footer to tie it with 1.4 seconds remaining.

“I tried to get away from the guy as fast as possible and I wanted to go right, because that’s my comfort zone,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 33 points on four-made 3s. “Fortunately, the shot went in.”

The entire Paycom Center crowd, the Thunder coaches and players thought overtime was inevitable. Thanks to the Thunder’s defense and relentlessness, the Pelicans couldn’t get the ball into the front court and all they were left with was the contested miracle shot by Graham over the outstretched hands of Williams.

“All those little execution things situationally add up,” said Daigneault. “We put ourselves in a really good position, all things considered… If we execute one or two more things tonight, we could have been on the other side of that.”

As the ball soared in the air there was a moment of uncertainty, but when it banked off the glass and in, the entire building knew they were witnessing history – no NBA game had ended with back-to-back 30-foot shots to tie or take the lead in the final seconds like that in the past 25 years.

“In a matter of seconds, you go from happy to wow,” said Williams.

OKC happened to be on the wrong side of that extremely rare occasion but gave itself the chance to be in the fight with moments and investments that matter. That’s something this team will continue to do all season long.

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An Unbelievable Conclusion and the Moments that Mattered

Last week, when the rest of the Thunder was on the road, Kenrich Williams was back in Oklahoma City, diligently rehabbing the right ankle sprain he sustained the day after Thanksgiving against the Washington Wizards.

Williams took care of his body, working with Thunder Director of Medical Services Donnie Strack and his staff. He took it slow through his workouts and the Thunder didn’t rush him. Kenrich’s return was on his timetable – at age 27 there’s a professional understanding of how he needs to feel physically to go out and be his ferocious self for 20-ish minutes of NBA action.

On Monday the Thunder took on Detroit to start an Eastern Conference road trip that continues Wednesday in Toronto against the Raptors. In his first game back against the Pistons, Williams first subbed into the Thunder’s game against the Detroit Pistons with his team down by 10. Only 6:19 of action had passed in the first quarter and it was clear this was going to be a night when Kenny Hustle needed to rear his head and roar. He attacked in transition, slicing through layers of Detroit defenders for a fast break layup, then capped off the most beautiful ball movement sequence of the night for the Thunder – a drive by Aleksej Pokuševski who dished to Tre Mann who kicked out to Derrick Favors who swung it to Williams – with a catch-and-shoot 3.

It wasn’t the scoring though, it was the energy on the floor that changed when Kenrich stepped on, like it has on most nights he’s played this year. With his scrappy pressuring defense, physicality on box outs and loose balls and timely offense, he helped spearhead an 18-point comeback and a 114-103 road win. The Thunder’s identity this year has been to play hard and remain competitive for 48 minutes, with Williams serving as a conduit for that electricity on a frequent basis.

“That's something I take pride in, picking my teammates up when we need that spark, just going out there and playing super hard and playing to exhaustion,” said Williams. “Once you do that – not only me, if anybody else on the team does that as well – it's contagious.”

“That's just what Kenrich does - he does all the little stuff for our team,” said point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “In the passing lanes, 50/50 balls, rebounds, and then he has game offensively. He knows his spots and plays within himself.”

In the second half, Williams’ spots were at the elbows or on the block, in his “loads” in help-side defense. Keeping an eye on the ball, an eye on his man on the weak side of the floor and pinching in with active feet to deter drivers, Williams was able to take up a ton of real estate for the Thunder on defense. The shell of the Thunder’s phalanx intact, all Williams had to do was wait in anticipation for some desperate impatience from Detroit.

In rapid succession, Williams was rewarded with three weakly-thrown Pistons cross-court passes that popped directly in his hands, then twice in the fourth quarter found himself behind an unsuspecting driver who was attacking the rim in time to swat their shot out of the vicinity. Separately, after the game, both head coach Mark Daigneault and rookie Josh Giddey called Williams a “monster” for his performance.

“Some of it is circumstance - he’s just in the spot,” said head coach Mark Daigneault. “But he's in his spots.”

“It’s just studying the game, that’s what it comes down to,” said Williams. “I watch a lot of basketball. I play a lot of basketball. In this league, you know guys’ tendencies and it’s just trusting the defensive game plan and sticking to it.”

All four of Williams’ steals and both blocks came in the second half of Monday’s victory, when he played 15 of his 27 minutes, including all but 30 seconds of the fourth quarter. He also added 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the game, with 7 of those points coming on perfect 3-for-3 shooting during the Thunder’s relentless fourth quarter, where it shot 17-of-19 from the field with 13-straight makes at one point.

Williams was in constant motion, diving to the rim on slicing cuts through the middle of the lane. Rookie Josh Giddey found him twice on those cuts for dunks, though there were dozens more decoy runs that went unrewarded yet held the defense’s attention and opened up other avenues for teammates.

“He takes great pride in the areas of the game that are competitive but invisible,” said Daigneault.

“You never hear about K-Rich complain about nothing,” said Giddey, who reported that he and Williams were replaying their in-game chemistry afterwards in the locker room. “Whether he plays 10 minutes or 30 minutes he gives the same effort every night.”

On Sunday, before Williams had even officially been ruled in for the game at Detroit, Daigneault gave a breakdown of the Thunder’s development arc for young players – load up on minutes early to explore their games, tighten to hone efficiency in smaller roles, then continue to expand minutes so long as their game remains effective. To cap the conversation, Daigneault pointed to Williams as a model for the Thunder’s first through third year guys who are finding their own specific track along that path.

“Most players games are pretty well-defined in terms of how they can impact the team and how they can impact the outcomes of the game,” said Daigneault. “So then it just becomes about really becoming nuanced inside of your own game and getting really good at it. If you do that and impacts the team in a positive way, then naturally your role is going to expand.”

“A tangible example of that is Kenrich,” Daigneault continued. “His role has expanded, but not because his game is expanded. His role has expanded because he's gotten better inside of his role, and he's proven to be a guy that the team is better when he's on the court on both ends of the floor. It makes it hard not to have him in the mix and it makes it hard not to see him as somebody that enhances the other guys that you're trying to develop.”

As the Thunder continues its march through a weighty December schedule with a road game in Toronto on Wednesday, it’ll be another chance for the young core to continue defining their games and channeling their gifts into an asset that helps the team.

For Williams, it’ll be another opportunity to go out and be a monster.

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K-Rich, Monster Competitor

OKC Earns Sixth-Best November Defense by Honing Fundamentals

By Nick Gallo | Broadcast Reporter and Digital Editorokcthunder.com

Thunder defensive ace Lu Dort turned up the temperature during a second-half sequence on Oct. 24, harassing Philadelphia 76ers guard Furkan Korkmaz into a fumbling possession that eventually resulted into a turnover. A game later, it was a Thunder team effort to rotate, scramble and recover on a third-quarter possession against the Western Conference-leading Golden State Warriors that forced a contested and then missed 3-pointer by Damion Lee. The next night, it was a solid defensive stretch against the Los Angeles Lakers when the Thunder didn’t allow a made field goal for three-straight minutes to end the second quarter igniting the fuse on a record-tying 26-point comeback.

Honing the fundamentals and executing them collectively has turned those tone-setting October moments into extended stretches in the month of November, where the Thunder has been one of the top defenses in the entire NBA. The flipping of the page on the calendar wasn’t magical, but what bubbled under the surface as potent moments and powerful sequences early on has turned into an outstanding potion. The Thunder ranks sixth in defensive rating in the month of November (104.6), just behind the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks and ahead of the Eastern Conference-leading Brooklyn Nets.

On Nov. 1, the first game of a road trip in Los Angeles, the Thunder held the Clippers to just 3-of-17 shooting from the field to start the game, setting a stifling tone from the very outset. The Thunder sustained that effort by forcing a pair of shot clock violations in the third quarter, including one where Kenrich Williams and Mike Muscala denied Paul George a look at the rim on a daring drive. Second year players Aleksej Pokuševski and Théo Maledon sealed off defensive stands with ferocious rebounds in the fourth quarter, then rookie Josh Giddey picked up a steal forced by a Thunder trap on George to keep it a close game. Coming up just short of a win didn’t deter the Thunder—the group has maintained that same tenacity on defense over the past 30 days by leaning into a few crucial fundamentals.

“We're really just trying to establish our base right now,” said head coach Mark Daigneault. “It's really just an efficiency thing—the checklist of efficiency.”

The first core principle of the Thunder’s defensive game plan is getting back on defense, and Daigneault has drilled his team into hustling in transition, communicating and matching up to a man better than any other Western Conference team this year.

“Sprint back, giving it 100-percent effort,” said Williams of the coaches’ message.

The Thunder has allowed the second fewest fast break points per game in the month of November (8.9), which is the defensive cornerstone that allows all of the following pillars to stand. There was no better example of the value of transition defense than on Nov. 12, when Pokuševski hustled back through the middle of the open floor to chase down Sacramento’s Chimezie Metu and block a sure-thing layup to save two points—the eventual Thunder margin of victory.

“We want to be a team that is fighting and playing together,” said Pokuševski. “We're together and we just keep grinding.”

Once the Thunder is back and set up with all five men, that’s when it can really start to get to work in its half-court shell, which is the start of the second defensive principle—defending the paint. In the month of November, the Thunder has allowed the fourth fewest points in the paint per game (41.1) as well as the third lowest overall field goal percentage (42.2 percent). Those numbers go hand-in-hand because the league’s highest percentage shots come at the rim, and the wide-open catch-and-shoot jump shots on the perimeter originate when the ball touches the paint on a drive or a post-up.

Protecting the paint is a catch-all phrase that has many meanings, however, which include taking individual pride to stay in front of a driver and communicating in pick and roll coverage. In that Sacramento game, the Thunder managed to shut off an alley-oop trend from the first 28 minutes of action, preventing the Kings from scoring on that play for the final 20 minutes of the game by pinching over in help with a weakside defender—another successful method of paint protection that happens below the rim and between the ears, aided by huddles and film sessions.

“The best teams defensively talk the most, and it ultimately just makes it easier because you can listen and you know where to be and when to be,” said guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “It’s knowing what certain guys like to do and trying to make them all as uncomfortable as possible – film is almost like a cheat sheet before you play, before you take the test.”

If the opposition can’t get any downhill action going with the pass, often it will resort to one-on-one creation late in the shot clock with its primary playmakers. That’s where the Thunder’s third defensive principle comes into effect—being physical without fouling. Fortunately, the Thunder has an All-Defensive team caliber performer in Lu Dort, who takes on the challenge of defending the opposition’s best perimeter player each night. Those elite scorers are the ones who get the free throw line the most often, but Dort has committed just 52 fouls in 594 minutes. Meanwhile, he’s drawn 15 offensive fouls on the opposition during that same time on the floor.

“The thing I'm trying to do the most is really stay in front of my opponent all the time, to always show my hands and have my chest up,” Dort said.

It’s not just Dort who takes on the challenge in isolation or fighting through screens. Often the Thunder platoons the third-year Montreal native with a hustler from central Texas. Kenrich Williams comes off the bench when Dort comes off, but Daigneault says instead of passing a baton, it should be a ceremonial headbutt between Dort and Williams given their hard-nosed approach to defense.

In the front-court, there’s another man who has been taking on responsibility—Darius Bazley. The third-year forward has assumed one of the most difficult matchups each night at the four spot—Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis, among others—and yet has the fewest fouls per game (0.8) of anyone in the NBA playing 25 minutes or more.  The result of all that disciplined defense for the Thunder in November has been the sixth fewest free throw attempts allowed per game (17.8).

Once the Thunder defense has gotten back, walled off the paint, kept their hands in plain sight and away from opponents’ limbs and jerseys, it’s usually about time for a shot to go up. Every time that happens, Thunder players are held accountable for closing out sharply and getting a hand up in the face of the shooter. In the month of November, the Thunder ranks third in the NBA in total contested shots per game (56.6), challenging over 63 percent of all shots taken by opponents.

While eyes in the stands gaze at the arc of the basketball, Thunder players are checking their corners and starting their box outs. Finishing off a possession with a defensive rebound is one of the best indicators of a strong defense, and that’s one of the areas the Thunder has excelled the most in November, compiling the third best defensive rebounding percentage (75.8 percent) which has led to the fourth fewest second chance points allowed per game (11.2).

“It's guys putting bodies on the other team and gang rebounding,” said veteran center Derrick Favors, one of five Thunder players averaging 5-or-more rebounds per game. “It's just will and competitiveness. It's something you have to be willing to do.”

When the Thunder can close off cracks at extra possessions, that’s when the success sequence starts ramping up with offensive momentum attached. On Nov. 4, that wheel spun as OKC held the Lakers to just two field goals over the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter. One game later, on Nov. 7 against the Spurs, the Thunder forced San Antonio into 1-for-14 shooting, including 0-for-9 from 3 during a five-minute third quarter stretch that resulted in a 20-2 Thunder burst. Back on the road in New Orleans on Nov. 10, the Thunder burst out of the gates on an 8-0 run, then added spurts of 15-0 and 14-1 by hitting on all four key defensive fundamentals.

Ultimately, when it comes to not just winning but more importantly, establishing winning habits, defense boils down to what the Thunder coaching staff has dubbed, “the moment of truth”. If an opponent rises up for a dunk or layup, the Thunder must have the impulsive courage to bring verticality to contest at the rim, like Bazley did by successfully blocking the menacing Antetokounmpo twice on dunk attempts in Milwaukee on Nov. 19.

“It’s making sure teams are playing against all five of us, while priding ourselves on one-on-one defense,” said Bazley. “High energy. Effort. Discipline.”

For other, less springy players than Bazley, it’s taking a charge or making a hard foul to prevent an easy layup. For Dort, it’s digging in, not allowing himself to be screened and keeping his feet light and hands quick. With the game on the line against Sacramento, he pressured rising star De’Aaron Fox into a turnover, then scooped up the loose ball and scored on the other end for a game-winning bucket. That victory was a fourth-straight win for OKC, which helped stabilize a 1–5 October with a 6–8 November.

By connecting those defensive pillars, the Thunder has been able to put together a well-rounded defense that has allowed the fifth fewest points per game (103.2) in November. That has also meant the team has legitimately been in more games late in fourth quarters, creating increased opportunities for “moment of truth” plays. With more chances to be in do-or-die situations, the Thunder will only continue to develop as a unit and individuals. Just like how this young squad is learning the core defensive fundamentals, it’s also figuring out how to show up in the biggest situations of games. In time and with seasoning, that process will lead to the Thunder’s desired outcomes on the scoreboard.

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'Checklist of Efficiency'–OKC Earns Sixth-Best November Defense by Honing Fundamentals

In the opening game of the season, on Oct. 20, a Thunder team lacking in the experience department went to Salt Lake City and took some lumps from the Utah Jazz, the reigning number one seed in the Western Conference.

In the second half of that game, head coach Mark Daigneault pressed a different button, using rookie Jeremiah Robinson-Earl as a pick-and-pop center to burn Utah’s rim-protecting center Rudy Gobert a couple times on 3-pointers from the top of the key. The buckets didn’t change the final outcome, a 107-86 Thunder loss, but fast forward to Wednesday night’s rematch and Daigneault was using information gleaned from game number one as a primer for game number 18.

Instead of coming off the bench for 13 spot minutes like in the first meeting, the 2021 second-round pick Robinson-Earl started Wednesday’s contest, notched eight first-half points and started 3-for-3 from behind the arc. Gobert, accustomed to roaming in the paint to protect the basket, was flummoxed as to whether to stay put or rush out to the perimeter to guard Robinson-Earl. Even shorthanded, without its leading scorer in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who was out with a sprained ankle, the Thunder’s offense hummed in the opening 24 minutes, burying eight 3s and taking a three-point lead into halftime against the NBA’s No. 1 offensive squad.

“Our guys did a really good job of putting them in some dilemmas there,” said Daigneault. “When you let him sit back there at the basket, it's really hard. That's one way to attack them. That's what we found a little success with in the past.”

When a young, developing team comes up against a veteran-laden NBA Finals contender like Utah, it’s not typical for the favorite to be the one that blinks first. However, the Thunder’s decision to tie up Gobert forced the Jazz to adjust from its tried-and-true defensive gameplan. Coming out of the locker room to start the second half, the Jazz started employing late switches, where Gobert stayed sunk into the lane, but once a Thunder guard like Josh Giddey or Lu Dort drove down there he stayed with the ball-handler, while the perimeter defender peeled back quickly to try to take away Robinson-Earl’s 3s.

“Our plan was to move them around and then use the shot clock and I felt like we did a good job of that,” said Dort.

The strategy proved effective to some degree, but it opened up other opportunities for the Thunder guards to attack – either through Gobert with confidence or to deftly bait him away a foot or two to free up an angle for a cutter like Kenrich Williams (6-for-6 FG, 12 points) to find the basket. As the game wore on, the Jazz continued to mix coverages – trapping, switching and chasing over screens, pulling out all the bag of tricks. Against a Jazz team that would love nothing more than to line up the usual game plan and suffocate the opposition with its rim protection and conservative defensive approach, the Thunder forced Utah into playing a chess match for all 48 minutes.

During the Thunder’s postgame meeting in Wednesday’s 110-104 loss to the Jazz, Daigneault asked the team to remember its film session down in Houston on the day after that first game of the year, and to compare that to the progress it showed in game number 18. That first matchup wasn’t altogether too competitive. The rematch featured 28 lead changes, and no advantage greater than 8 points for either squad.

“It's a great barometer of where we're at,” said Daigneault. “You make a really good team earn it for 48 minutes.”

That growth wasn’t just displayed in Robinson-Earl (13 points, 10 rebounds, four assists) working the pick-and-pop with his fellow rookie Giddey. It was the fact that the Giddey was fearlessly running the point without Gilgeous-Alexander there to lean on and racking up a season-high-tying 19 points – to match his age –  to go with eight assists and seven rebounds in the process. It was second-year guard Théo Maledon, the first player off the bench fresh off an assignment with the Oklahoma City Blue on its California road trip, attacking his 7-foot-1 French countryman Gobert confidently for a physical driving layup and hitting all four of his free throw attempts.

On defense it was Darius Bazley rushing over from the weak side to block the NBA’s leader in dunks right at the rim, bravely denying Gobert one more for his collection. It was rookie two-way guard Aaron Wiggins getting a spot start, learning some tough lessons about defending sharpshooters Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson but hanging in there long enough in the matchups to secure two crucial fourth quarter rebounds.

The growth was also clearly in Dort, the third-year undrafted guard who perhaps as much as anyone in Oklahoma City has shown just how far you can come with the right approach and work ethic. In this year’s season-opener, Dort went 2-for-10 from the field and 1-of-6 from 3 and while he didn’t give up an explosive night to his assignment, All-Star Donovan Mitchell, he didn’t totally win the battle either. Fast forward to Wednesday, and it was Dort who was sliding his feet to stay in front of Mitchell at every turn, contesting every shot and then giving it right back to the Jazz on the other end of the floor.

Dort notched a game-high 27 points in Wednesday’s battle on a season-best five made 3-pointers, extending his streak of consecutive games with at least two 3-pointers to nine-straight and streak of at least one made three to 32, currently the fourth best in the NBA. All the while, he held Mitchell to just 13 points on 6-of-16 shooting and not a single free throw attempt.

“I’ve just got to follow the scouting report. (Mitchell) is an aggressive, strong guard and I’ve just got to make it tough,” Dort said of his performance. “I can push through when I'm when I'm tired so I feel like I'm used to it now, just going hard on both ends on the floor.”

As the Thunder enjoys a hard-earned day off for Thanksgiving, it’ll turn the page to Friday’s matchup with the Washington Wizards, a surprise 4-seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Daigneault’s crew will watch the tape from Wednesday, ingest the lessons and have to ramp up the energy all over again. In the thick of the competition on a nightly basis in the NBA, these young Thunder players will continue to go through these moments, learn the league and force teams to adjust, counter and scheme their way through a 48-minute battle.

“(You) can't tiptoe against these teams,” said Daigneault. “They'll see blood and water.”

The Thunder’s offense will face different challenges with Washington – a team that is as stingy as they come in transition, allowing the second fewest fast break points of any NBA squad. On defense, Dort will have to climb the mountain possession-by-possession once again, except instead of trying to paint a masterpiece against Mitchell it’ll be a deadly off-the-dribble shooter in Bradley Beal. Giddey, Bazley, Robinson-Earl and the rest of the Thunder crew will sort out matchups with Spencer Dinwiddie, Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope while also helping out with high-impact, rolling centers in Daniel Gafford and Montrezl Harrell.

That’s the job for this OKC group – to pick themselves up off the mat night after night, with the mindset, tenacity and preparation for each opponent that will grant them entry into a fourth quarter battle of wits and will. Then, to truly develop experience that counts, the Thunder will have to gobble up every moment of those crunch time clashes and wear the lessons with honor.

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Preview: Thunder vs. Wizards - 11/26

After closing out its four-game homestand with a win over the Rockets on Wednesday, OKC now hits the road for a three-game stint through the Eastern Conference. The Thunder’s first test will take place in Milwaukee on Friday against the Bucks where the Thunder will have a chance to throw their best punch at the reigning NBA champs.

Defensive Carryover 
In its game against Houston on Wednesday, the Thunder’s defense was on full display as it held the Rockets to just 89 points on 35-percent shooting from the field. On Friday, the Thunder will have a much different defensive test in containing the large, veteran frontline of Milwaukee. One of the biggest takeaways from the Thunder’s first meeting with the Bucks during preseason was the level of physicality required in containing the defending champs.

Lu’s Offensive Streak
With his season-high 34 points performance against the Rockets, Thunder guard Lu Dort has now recorded five consecutive games with 20 or more points which marks the longest streak of his career. Over those five contests, the undrafted wing has averaged 24.6 points while shooting 58.8 percent from the field.

Offensive Pace
After back-to-back games with zero fast break points, the Thunder has now recorded three consecutive games with 10 or more fast break points including 13 against Houston. OKC’s offense is fueled by its ability to get stops defensively, secure rebounds and get out in transition for early looks at the basket.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault will not travel with the team on their three-game road trip as he and his wife, Ashley who is 40-weeks pregnant, are expecting a child. Thunder assistant coach Dave Bliss will take over as interim head coach for the Thunder’s games against Milwaukee, Boston and Atlanta. Bliss is in his third season on the sideline for the Thunder and ninth season overall with the organization.

“I think it's a great opportunity for us to flex our organizational muscles,” said Daigneault. “It's a great opportunity for not only Dave, but the rest of our coaching staff and the team. It's a little bit of a stress test in a good way. That's how you get better and grow.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on going up against Milwaukee…
“They’re one of the better teams in the NBA. Obviously, they’re coming off a championship, so it’ll be super fun to play against them and give them our best shot and kind of try to prove ourselves against one of the top dogs in the league.”

Wednesday’s matchup will mark the second game in a season-long five-game home stand for the Bucks. Most recently, Milwaukee defeated the Lakers 109-102 as Giannis Antetokounmpo led all scorers with a season-high 47 points on 78 percent shooting from the field and a 3-of-4 performance from deep. With his two made 3-pointers against the Lakers, sharpshooter Khris Middleton tied the Bucks franchise 3-point leader in all-time 3-pointers made. Both Middleton and Pat Connaughton off the bench chipped in 16 points in the effort and forward Bobby Portis cashed in 17.

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Preview: Thunder at Bucks - 11/19

The Thunder rolls into the second game of a four-game homestand on Sunday night as it squares off with the Brooklyn Nets. Thanks to a string of strong defensive performances in November and a gutsy 18-point comeback against Sacramento, OKC stands at 5-6 on a four-game win streak.

Shutting off the Opposition’s Action
    In the Thunder’s 105-103 win over Sacramento, the Kings got loose over the first 28 minutes of action on pick and roll alley-oop lobs, in particular to Richaun Holmes. After Head Coach Mark Daigneault’s timeout with 8:12 remaining in the third quarter, the Kings didn’t score again on that type of above-the-rim action again. The low man on the weak side of the defense started pinching in more and bumping the roller to prevent a runway to the rim. Putting the clamps on that movement was an excellent sign of the ability to adjust in-game by this young Thunder squad.

Downhill Dort
Against Sacramento, Lu Dort darted backdoor to receive a one-handed lefty bounce pass from the right-handed Josh Giddey for an and-one reverse layup. It was one of three layups that Dort made in the game while being fouled. It’s a continued progression for Dort as a finisher in the paint, where he shot 7-of-10 against the Kings. As a “ground athlete”, as Head Coach Mark Daigneault calls him, Dort has focused on his mechanics and mentality as he tries to time his attacks through the timbers down low.

Poku’s Hustle Plays
 In recent games, including Friday against Sacramento, Aleksej Pokuševski has shown his knack for making the hustle plays to help his team win games. Over a 3-minute stretch to close the third quarter, Pokuševski forced a turnover, made two assists and blocked a shot to help cut Sacramento’s lead to single digits heading into the final frame. First, the 2nd-year forward took a move out of Dort’s playbook by hustling around a pick and drawing the illegal screen call.

“For sure, I saw that from Lu,” Pokuševski said. “He gets that like once or twice every game. So I'm trying to play with energy.”

On the next possession he followed his own miss with a rebound and flicked the ball behind his back to Derrick Favors for a push shot. After a Kings timeout, Pokuševski drove baseline and found Favors again for a dunk before helping close the quarter with a chase down blocked shot to save a sure Kings basket.

Darius Bazley has knocked down 13 of his last 31 3-point attempts (41.9 percent), and has scored in double-figures in each of the last five games while averaging 13.8 points on 52.0 percent shooting on 9-of-18 3-point marksmanship. During that same stretch, he’s gobbled up 7.4 rebounds per game, mostly on the defensive end where he clears the glass to finish possessions and start OKC’s break.

“Our resilience has definitely been on display at different times this season. We've tried to train that muscle through every situation, not just when we’re coming back or when the comebacks result in wins. Our group is continuing to improve. There's a lot of possessions in the game and you’re not going to get them all right. There’s 105 offensive possessions and 105 defensive possessions and if out of 210 of them, 70 percent of them are above the water line, then you're pretty good. It’s important to understand that when you lose a game, it doesn't mean you did everything wrong and when you win a game it doesn't mean you did everything right.”—Coach Daigneault

Sitting near the very top of the Eastern Conference, the Nets boast one of the top five defensive ratings in the NBA at 104.1 while also rolling out some elite offensive weapons in Kevin Durant and James Harden. Durant is the only player to score 20-or-more points in every game this season, while Harden has been doing his work on jump shots His average shot distance is 19.7’, the fourth longest in the NBA this season. It’ll be up to the Thunder to show both players a crowd and have the resilience to withstand difficult shots that go down and have the resolve to contest more misses than makes as the game goes on.

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Preview: Thunder vs. Nets - 11/13

Back home from California and coming off a thrilling 19-point come-from-behind win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Thunder returns to Paycom Center for a single game against a long-time rival with a new-look roster, the San Antonio Spurs.

Team Defense
 In recent games the Thunder has had to contend with and scheme around All-Star caliber players that test opponents with pure talent. Stephen Curry, Paul George, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook demand attention from more than one defender at times. Meanwhile, the Spurs boast a more balanced attack that prioritizes ball movement. How the Thunder holds up defensively as a five-man unit will be a critical factor in preventing San Antonio from catching their extra passing rhythm.

Shai’s Hot Hand
 After an offseason of rest and rehab as he recovered from plantar fasciitis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander needed a few games to get his timing and tempo back. Since then, he’s been his sensational self, scoring 26.2 points on 47.3 percent shooting, including 46.3 percent from three over the last 6 games. He’s also added 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.0 steals over the last half dozen contests. Look for Shai to invest in his teammates throughout the night, then flip the switch on his own scoring when its needed against the Spurs.

Favors Rounding into Form
The Thunder has always done well incorporating new veterans into the group, and Derrick Favors is no exception. After getting acclimated to his new squad over the first week, Favors has found his niche within the group. Over the last four games he’s averaging 9.0 points and 5.8 rebounds on 15-of-17 (88.2 percent) shooting. With a potential matchup with burly big man Jakob Poeltl, Favors could again be a factor on both ends.

Since the 1996-97 season, only five teams have come back from deficits of 19 points or more against the same opponent in the same season. The Thunder has joined that five-team group after just 8 games in 2021-22, thanks to a team record-tying 26-point comeback last Wednesday in Oklahoma City and Thursday’s 19-point comeback at Staples Center.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, on playing in crunch-time:
“It's super fun. You know the stakes, you know the rewards, you know the risks and you trust your work.”Mark Daigneault, on handling success as well as adversity:
    “Nothing's linear. We’re going to have our struggles again and we're going to have our back against the wall again. You’re going to bleed in these games. You can't avoid that. We've just got to be a team that when that happens, we embrace it. We pull together through it, through thick and thin.”

The Spurs are playing an up-tempo style with one of the faster paces in the NBA, utilizing the pass to generate two-point shots at a high frequency, and efficiency. San Antonio ranks in the top five in field goal percentage and assists so far this season, with a balanced guard attack of Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, Derrick White and Lonnie Walker IV averaging a combined 58.9 points and 18.8 assists per contest.

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Preview: Thunder vs. Spurs - 11/7

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@okcthunder/streams">WATCH LIVE // End-of-Season Media Availability with Sam Presti</a>