Thunder In Review: Oklahoma City Starts Season Strong, Wear Down Lakers

Each recreation has its personal story.

All through the week on SI Thunder, we’ll be breaking down the twists and turns, wins and losses, and rising storylines all through the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 2021-22 marketing campaign.

At the moment, Oklahoma Metropolis’s first 14 video games come to the desk.

The Thunder entered the season with extra benchmarks forward than expectations. Loaded with 10 prospects aged 23-or-under, Mark Daigneault’s crew had been critiqued early resulting from their general inexperience and lack of a steady middle. Nonetheless, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander coming back from a long-term damage and No. 6 Decide Josh Giddey slated to log NBA minutes – there have been a number of potential storylines at hand.

A transparent studying curve was in play to open the season, as four-consecutive losses, headlined by a 33-point loss to the Houston Rockets, pushed them to the underside of the standings. Then, they strolled into Laker city.

After trailing 56-30 within the second quarter, Oklahoma Metropolis tied their largest comeback in franchise historical past, rallying behind a 41-point third body to defeat the Lakers 123-115.

The Thunder’s California tour continued over the week, falling to the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers, respectively. Then, the Lakers have been again in motion – and so have been the comebacks.

In a contest that noticed Los Angeles grasp a 19-point lead, Oklahoma Metropolis rallied a clutch-time 35-24 fourth-quarter run to the Lakers by three. Gilgeous-Alexander’s star efforts shined on the sport, busting out 11 fourth-quarter factors emphasised with a 34-foot bomb from the emblem.

The Thunder’s L.A. tour planted a seed to start out November because the group wrung out three extra three-consecutive single-digit wins – blazing previous the Spurs, Pelicans, and Kings. After the conclusion of their four-game streak, Daigneault’s crew had encroached on Play-In territory. Oklahoma Metropolis’s regular 5-6 begin swung the pendulum because the Los Angeles Clippers’ decide, owned by the Thunder, carried extra draft worth on the time.

A mid-month sputter noticed the group draw three video games beneath .500 earlier than Oklahoma Metropolis bought their revenge in opposition to the Houston Rockets, cashing in a 12-point victory behind 34 factors from Lu Dort.

By the closure of their first 14 – Oklahoma Metropolis drew a 6-8 document, maintaining themselves within the Play-In dialog.

Oklahoma Metropolis’s opening assertion to the common season had a bevy of highs. Pushed by Gilgeous-Alexander, the 23-year-old had not misplaced a step, averaging 21.1 factors and 4.6 assists to open play.

Josh Giddey shot down naysayers as he made important strides because the secondary playmaker, opening his first 14 video games averaging 9.4 factors, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. Giddey’s play yielded severe stat traces early, together with an 18-point, 10-rebound recreation in opposition to the Lakers.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl confirmed the makings of a draft steal, snagging the beginning middle spot 5 video games into the season as a pick-and-pop 5 subsequent to SGA.

Oklahoma Metropolis’s first month of play mapped a tough blueprint. However, as showcased within the following video games, their cluster of potential grew far past expectations.

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