Thunder's depth shines as they shake off skid. Dieng, Holmgren impress, SGA leads despite efficiency, securing a crucial win.
The Oklahoma City Thunder successfully ended a two-game home skid with a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. It ended up being a nine-point win over an outmatched Pelicans team that entered the night with just 12 wins on the season. Even so, it took a bit for Oklahoma City to fully put the game away.
At one point, the Thunder built a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter, but the Pelicans responded with a brief run to cut into the deficit before OKC reeled it back in and closed out the victory. It was not the most impressive win on paper, but given the circumstances, it was an important one.
With the Thunder still dealing with injuries throughout the rotation and the game becoming increasingly chippy and physical late, Tuesday night provided valuable reps for some of Oklahoma City’s depth pieces. Ousmane Dieng was a notable example. He finished with four points, four rebounds and two assists, but logged nearly 20 minutes of action and looked as comfortable and confident as he has in perhaps any game this season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 29 points after a slow start, opening the game 0-for-6 from the field. He finished 8-for-22 overall, an inefficient night by his standards, but still found ways to get to his spots and score when the Thunder needed it. Chet Holmgren delivered one of the most impressive performances of the night, posting 20 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and five blocks. Holmgren was arguably Oklahoma City’s best player, impacting the game on both ends of the floor.
Isaiah Joe and Lu Dort combined for 29 points, including nine made three-pointers, providing timely shot-making and spacing as the Thunder worked to maintain control throughout the second half.
From a team perspective, Oklahoma City held clear advantages in several key areas. The Thunder shot better from beyond the arc, from the free-throw line and from the floor overall, forced more turnovers and generated more second-chance points. Those margins ultimately proved to be the difference.
It was a gutty, back-against-the-wall type of win for a Thunder team looking to avoid a three-game losing streak, something this group has not dealt with in quite some time. The result also helps Oklahoma City get back on track before the schedule tightens, beginning with a road matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, followed by a road game against the Denver Nuggets on