The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, led by sharpshooter Isaiah Joe, got here away with a 104-94 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, due to his 16-point efficiency.
Atlanta’s younger guard Kobe Bufkin led the way in which for the Hawks, ending with 31 factors on 12-of-26 capturing. Despite the fact that it was a preseason recreation, it was Bufkin’s profession excessive, however the efficiency was not sufficient to lead to a victory for the Hawks.
The Thunder obtained off to a robust begin within the first quarter, taking a 19-9 lead with 5:40 left. Massive man Chet Holmgren accounted for 9 of these factors whereas hitting from the perimeter and attending to the free throw line. Holmgren calmed down after his scoring spurt, ending with 15 factors within the first half.
Triples from Atlanta guards Bufkin, Dyson Daniels and Garrison Matthews rapidly lower the rating within the first half. Despite the fact that Bufkin elevated his scoring from the perimeter as the sport progressed, the Hawks solely drilled 4 to begin. By the top of the quarter, Atlanta had taken a 28-27 lead, due to a paint can from heart Onyeka Okongwu.
OKC regained a seven-point lead with 8:30 left within the second half when ahead Aaron Wiggins went 1-for-2 from the free throw line. About two minutes later, dynamic ahead Jalen Williams landed awkwardly on his ankle and was taken out of the sport and didn’t return.
The 2 groups traded scores and on the finish of the half, Atlanta held a 51-49 lead. OKC’s star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did not get going within the first half. He completed with simply six factors on 2-for-4 capturing and by no means noticed the sector once more.
The Thunder featured a lineup of a number of deep items to begin the second half, with Wiggins, Cason Wallace, Joe, Dillon Jones and Ousmane Dieng. This crew held sturdy through the quarter, with Dieng scoring six factors within the first 4 minutes. Joe, one in every of OKC’s sharpshooters, additionally caught hearth within the third quarter.
Joe scored 14 factors within the quarter and stored the Thunder shut. He additionally hit 4 triples within the third, his second straight efficiency with 4 or extra made triples and 14 or extra runs scored.
Joe’s third quarter efficiency stored the Thunder trailing 79-77 on the finish of the third quarter. The sport remained shut all through the fourth quarter and the destiny of the sport can be left within the arms of OKC’s depth items.
As the sport wound down, a triple by rookie Dillon Jones and a dunk by Dieng put the Thunder up 5 with 5:23 left. OKC performed strong on-ball protection down the stretch, making life troublesome for Atlanta’s offense. The Hawks relied on Bufkin’s multi-level scoring capacity, however Jones and the Thunder’s protection compelled him to make a number of pictures. He nonetheless had some powerful occasions and continued to maintain the Hawks inside profitable distance.
A 1-for-2 free throw by Dieng with 35 seconds left gave the Thunder a 100-94 lead. Bufkin and guard Kevon Harris made two pictures with lower than 30 seconds left to offer the Hawks a motive to maintain fouling, however they stored sending Dieng to the free throw line and he stored fouling them. notice. He completed with 15 complete factors, 5 of which got here from the stripe.
After closing out its preseason with a win, OKC begins its common season at 9 p.m. CDT on Thursday, October 24 at Ball Enviornment in a street take a look at in opposition to the Denver Nuggets. OKC beat the Nuggets of their fourth preseason recreation in resounding vogue, profitable 124-94.
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