Oklahoma
Oklahoma City’s Big Three Asserts Itself in Game 2 Victory
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s big three is the antithesis of Kendrick Lamar’s latest hit, “Like That.”
“F— the big three … it’s just big me.”
Lamar might be firing shots at two of his biggest peers in the rap game in Drake and J. Cole, but Oklahoma City’s trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams is simultaneously coming together at its strongest as the NBA playoffs roll on.
Gilgeous-Alexander is obviously an MVP candidate that is leading the wave of success the Thunder is currently experiencing, but as Holmgren alluded to following its 32-point win in Game 2 over the New Orleans Pelicans, the 25-year-old is “too humble to say it.” Nobody in the Oklahoma City locker room is trying to one-up each other or prove they’re the best, it’s just a tight-knit group of mostly young talent trying to compete for the same prize — an NBA Championship.
Last night was a step forward in proving that, as the Thunder took a 2-0 lead in the series off the backs of its leading trio’s combined 80 points of a total of 124. They were dominant throughout the entire game, scoring the ball at an extremely efficient rate and granting a strong defensive effort. The Pelicans stood little to no chance at stopping them, making Oklahoma City all the more confident for an eventual series win.
Game 1 didn’t treat Gilgeous-Alexander as kindly as expected, but he proved why he is at the forefront of a tight race for the MVP award. The guard put up 33 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals on ridiculous 13-of-19 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. He only needed four free throws to reach that number, instead flexing his scoring muscles outside of the paint.
That performance was Gilgeous-Alexander’s true statement to the league on the playoff stage that he should be considered one of the best players in the world. He’s the vessel that drives the Thunder to the high levels it reaches, but even so, he needs his co-stars to be there for him.
Holmgren had an impressive playoff debut on Sunday, but Game 2 was an even better outing for the rookie. He dropped 26 points, seven rebounds and two blocks on 9-of-13 shooting, three of which came from behind the arc. Although his frame had been questioned against a bigger center in Jonas Valanciunas, bigger doesn’t always mean better.
The 21-year-old through two games has a +/- of +30, completely blowing Valanciunas’ -16 out of the water. Oklahoma City is considerably winning the battle inside the paint, even if the counting stats haven’t truly showed it.
Last but not least, J-Dub. The man who has convinced fans to bark with him tore it up last night, recording 21 points, five rebounds, seven assists and a steal on 10-of-17 shooting. His offense was great, but he also showed his two-way ability by putting the clamps on C.J. McCollum during a brilliant defensive play in the first half.
Williams is serving as a hype man of sorts, upping the energy of the home crowd with his entertaining brand of basketball and funny mannerisms. But it’s not all jokes, the 22-year-old is a legitimate star in the making that can be the Thunder’s primary scoring option if needed. It doesn’t have many shot creators, but he can help alleviate the pressures Gilgeous-Alexander faces.
If Oklahoma City having a big three or not was ever questioned, Game 2 certainly put that idea to rest. Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren and Williams are here to win, and you can forget age being a factor in preventing that from happening now. They make for one of the best trios in the playoffs no matter their age, and so far, inexperience doesn’t seem to be affecting them from having success.
New Orleans will have to respond to the big three in Game 3, or else it might be deleted from the series faster than “7 Minute Drill.”
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DAVIS, Okla. (KXII) – Law enforcement is searching for a 15-year-old boy from Davis who has been reported as an endangered missing person.
According to an OHP post on X, James Pletcher of Davis was last seen after 11 p.m. Saturday, July 4th. He was wearing a black shirt, black shorts and black shoes.
Anyone who sees Pletcher or has information on his whereabouts is asked to call 911.
Copyright 2026 KXII. All rights reserved.
TULSA, Okla. — Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed an executive order declaring a disaster emergency for Cleveland and Washington Counties, following powerful severe weather that moved across the state on July 4.
The declaration will ensure recovery resources can be deployed to those impacted areas quickly.
Related Coverage>>> THOUSANDS WITHOUT POWER: Cooling centers open in Bartlesville and Dewey
The Governor’s office is asking anyone with damage to their home or business to report it at Damage.ok.gov.
In a news release, the Governor’s office said the state is also coordinating with Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief to assist residents affected by the storms.
People needing assistance from Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief can call (844) 690-9198 or fill out a request form online at www.okdisasterhelp.org.
“State and local crews are out across Cleveland and Washington counties this morning checking on families, clearing debris, and helping our communities get back on their feet after these severe storms,” said Governor Stitt in the news release. “As crews work to get power restored to those impacted, please help by reporting damage and checking on your neighbors.”
The full text of the executive order can be read here.
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Last summer, Sooner fans had no idea what to expect from the team’s offensive line. This year, Oklahoma fans can be cautiously optimistic about the unit heading into the fall.
Late in the 2025 season, offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh utilized a six-man rotation that featured Febechi Nwaiwu, Derek Simmons, Ryan Fodje, Michael Fasusi, Eddy Pierre-Louis and Jake Maikkula.
Nwaiwu was the only veteran in the position group, as Simmons and Maikkula transferred in and Fodje, Fasusi and Pierre-Louis were freshmen. (Pierre-Louis was a redshirt freshman).
The new-look group produced mixed results.
Oklahoma allowed 29 sacks, which ranked 93rd out of 134 FBS teams — so not great. But according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), OU quarterback John Mateer was pressured 26 times, which ranked 26th among signal callers at the Power Four level.
In 2024, OU allowed 50 sacks, which tied for last in the nation. Though there were still pass-blocking lapses in 2025, the performance from the line in those situations was far better than the year before.
OU’s linemen, however, still struggled to open up running lanes. The Sooners ranked 13th in the SEC and 112th nationally in rushing, averaging only 118.5 yards per game.
Oklahoma’s offensive line didn’t suddenly become the best in the SEC last year, but Bedenbaugh’s group did show that it’s on the right trajectory.
Fodje, Fasusi and Pierre-Louis will all be sophomores in 2026, while Maikkula and Arkansas transfer E’Marion Harris are entering their senior seasons. Those five are OU’s likely Week 1 starters, and the combination of youth and experience should give the Sooners a strong foundation on the line.
That said, the Sooners will be without Nwaiwu — their “glue guy” — in the fall.
Nwaiwu started 26 games over two seasons at Oklahoma. He earned Second Team All-SEC honors in 2025 and was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, given annually to college football’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on. Nwaiwu began his collegiate career at North Texas and appeared in 26 games for the Mean Green.
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Nwaiwu was OU’s most effective pass blocker, finishing 2025 with a remarkable 91.6 PFF grade in that category. His former OU teammates and coaches regularly raved about his leadership traits, saying they were just as vital to the line’s improvement as his skills.
The Houston Texans selected Nwaiwu in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. So now that he’s gone, who will step up?
Maikkula and Harris are certainly the “old guys” on the line. Maikkula spent three seasons at Stanford before coming to Norman, while Harris played 1,694 offensive snaps over his four years at Arkansas.
The young trio of Fodje, Fasusi and Pierre-Louis doesn’t have as much college football experience as those two, but they’ve been in Norman for just as long — or longer — than Maikkula and Harris.
Though it’s hard to replicate the impact Nwaiwu made, OU coach Brent Venables feels confident that others will step into leadership roles in the fall.
“Lots of different personalities, same mentality,” Venables said after OU’s spring game on April 18. “It might be the best that we’ve had since we’ve been here when it comes to that — the continuity, the chemistry, the togetherness. It’s a very real thing. It jumps out at you.”
The talent is there for OU’s offensive line to improve again in the fall. But someone — or several linemen — must step up for the unit to avoid a 2026 regression.
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