Game Recap: Thunder 93, Sixers 117

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Kane Dane
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It was a welcome sight to glimpse Darius Bazley and Lu Dort again on the ground for the Thunder of their return from harm, and each gamers carried out nicely in opposition to one of many best groups within the NBA. In the end a giant Philadelphia run within the second quarter and a flurry of Thunder turnovers after halftime resulted in a Thunder loss.

Perhaps it was the way in which he easily rocked himself right into a high of the important thing 3-pointer or the way in which he whizzed into the lane off the bounce, however it was clear that even regardless of lacking the final 16 video games for the Thunder, Darius Bazley got here able to play. Each Bazley (shoulder) and Lu Dort (concussion) returned from prolonged absences to begin in opposition to the 76ers on Saturday night time and helped the Thunder battle one of many NBA’s greatest with their athleticism, physicality and competitiveness.

“To not play since like All-Star and to lastly be capable to play, it’s wonderful,” mentioned Bazley. “I used to be itching simply eager to play. Simply being on the sideline, there’s nothing like cheering in your teammates on, however nothing compares to really actually being on the ground to compete. So it felt good being again on the market.”

Bazley scored eight fast factors on 3-for-3 taking pictures within the opening minutes and completed with 17 factors on 7-of-12 taking pictures, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal in 36 robust minutes. Dort added 15 factors on 6-of-12 taking pictures with two made 3s to go along with 5 rebounds and help, a block and a steal in 29 minutes performed.

“(Dort) was a bolt downhill tonight. He was actually, actually quick downhill,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “He did an excellent job of timing his cuts after which he had nice tempo form of turning the nook and get into the tooth of protection a pair occasions.

“We positively really feel their presence simply from like an athleticism standpoint,” he added. “These guys carry a variety of juice to the sport in their very own methods and I assumed they’d that tonight and can solely sharpen the blade from right here.”

Whereas Bazley and Dort helped the Thunder with its preliminary vitality, the 76ers scored effectively early as nicely behind a balanced assault of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Furkan Korkmaz. The Thunder stored it shut, however Philadelphia spun off a 13-1 run mid-way by the second quarter, a stretch that featured 5 free throw makes an attempt by Embiid and concluded with a Matisse Thybulle three-pointer to show an 8-point Thunder deficit right into a 59-39 Sixers lead with 4:31 remaining within the 1st half.

From there on the Thunder tried to make a number of separate expenses at Philadelphia’s lead, however every have been parried away because the Sixers emerged with a 117-93 win.

AThe Thunder was nonetheless inside placing distance, down simply 11 after the opening possession of the second half, however Philadelphia’s lengthy, swarming protection pressured eight turnovers within the first six and a half minutes of the third quarter to stall out any momentum. The Sixers got here in as one of many NBA’s most ferocious defenses and confirmed it popping out of the locker room to start the ultimate 24 minutes of play.

Because the Thunder struggled to string collectively a number of scores in a row, Philadelphia was persevering with to work their balanced assault. Embiid did some heavy lifting down low, however it was Korkmaz, who hit 4 3s within the recreation, who put the 76ers up 20 once more mid-way by the third.

On the earlier journey down the ground for the Thunder, Bazley obtained blocked by Embiid, giving the 76ers the ball and a few momentum at their again. It could have been simple for Bazley to let his ideas linger on an All-Star swatting his shot, however he as a substitute targeted on the phrases of his teammates and coaches, encouraging him to get the possession again by making a defensive play.

Bazley did simply that, making a steal on the weak aspect then charging forward into the open ground. When confronted by a closing defender, Bazley collected the ball firmly as he picked up his dribble, then stored the ball excessive above his 6-foot-8 body and completed robust on the cup.

“Lots of the time guys may flip it over and teammates will simply say ‘It’s fantastic. Get it again on protection’ and for me to have the ability to try this – to remain engaged have a brief reminiscence not likely let that get to me, the very subsequent play come down and get the steal and be capable to rating – that felt actually good,” Bazley defined. “When it comes into protection, I all the time need to have my presence there and let it’s felt in order that’s positively a degree of emphasis for me each night time defensively is popping out, enjoying laborious defending nicely, simply regardless of the coaches give out give out personnel, simply with the ability to carry that by.”

14

Rebounds within the recreation for Tony Bradley to go along with 16 factors, one help and three blocks for his first double-double since becoming a member of the Thunder in March, when he was acquired from the 76ers. Bradley labored nicely with teammates in aspect decide and roll, finishes off some well-timed passes from teammates.

“I’m simply making an attempt to creep into the open spots the place my man can’t see me,” Bradley defined. “They’re so busy making an attempt to assist on protection in order that one half second I get free, possibly a guard on my group can lay it up, or that one small window the place I can get into an open spot and have my palms prepared.”

“Coach calls it ‘letting the play develop’ off the decide and roll with different groups in a drop,” added level guard Ty Jerome. “When the opposite large is way within the paint, I attempt to preserve my guard on my again and make it a two on one with me and the large. From there, it’s simply making a learn, and in addition, Tony does an amazing job of getting out of these screens. He rolls actually quick. He rolls into good spots. He’s all the time out there for the ball.”

Ty Jerome

“We need to play quick so we’re going to make some errors. We’re simply making an attempt to attenuate the unhealthy ones. It’s going to occur. We simply should work on it each recreation to attempt to get somewhat bit higher at it, make it a degree to get a shot up each time and preserve the opposite group out of transition. Sport by recreation, make it a degree to get higher.”
–Ty Jerome

“It was an excellent recreation for us simply to go in opposition to a group with that form of size and self-discipline. They’re clearly a extremely good defensive group in order that they drive you to work for every part and I assumed our guys labored fairly laborious. If something, we’re just a bit sloppy with the ball, and had too many turnovers however I assumed the motion and the screening and reducing, which they pressured you to do to generate benefits, was fairly good and we obtained some cracks and had some alternatives.”


–Coach Daigneault

The Thunder will get two days off with no recreation, a stretch that it’ll solely have two extra occasions the remainder of the season, earlier than departing for Utah to begin a road-home back-to-back set in opposition to the Jazz after which the Golden State Warriors to start a stretch of 5 video games in seven nights.

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