Game Recap: Thunder 98, Kings 126

Sacramento’s red-hot 3-point capturing put the Kings in command of this one early on. Because the Kings continued its sharp-shooting by all 4 quarters, the Thunder was unable to reply offensively after falling behind early.

As video games wind down for the Thunder and precious minutes on the ground dwindle, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is utilizing the chance to discover his roster and the gamers who haven’t had the chance to construct the massive physique of labor within an NBA recreation. Because of this, the Thunder has seen main motion from participant reminiscent of two-way ahead Jaylen Hoard who logged his second consecutive recreation in double figures whereas recording a career-high 16 factors in 21 minutes of motion.

“He continues to impress. We discuss on a regular basis about bringing a degree of competitiveness and plugging into the crew and he does that. He executes on each ends of the ground. There’s actually nothing horny however his recreation but, however he competes each night time, he performs within a crew and he executes what we’re attempting to do on each ends with a excessive degree of reliability,” stated Daigneault. “He’s strung collectively some good performances right here when he’s gotten his alternatives.”

Hoard was part of the Thunder’s early burst of offense as OKC sank 4 of its first seven makes an attempt from deep and have been firing at a 50-percent clip from the ground within the first body. It was ball motion that fueled the Thunder’s offense. All eight of the Thunder’s first quarter baskets have been assisted and it was Aleksej Pokuševski in his first recreation again from a knee contusion who obtained issues began shelling out three early assists which led to the primary eight factors on the board for OKC. By halftime, the Thunder had dished out 14 assists on 18 made buckets.

“We’ve simply obtained to maneuver the ball nicely and with a objective and attempt to make your teammates higher. Put him in a closeout or discover him an open shot,” stated Pokuševski. “We’ve simply obtained to maintain doing that on a greater degree.”

The Kings’ offense additionally opened the sport on a excessive word shoot 60 p.c from the sector to go alongside 50 p.c from deep within the first half and continued its onslaught from behind the arc all through the half. Hield cashed in on a pair of 3-pointers halfway by the second body as a part of a 16-5 Kings run that boosted Sacramento’s benefit to twenty factors going into halftime.

Thunder ahead Darius Bazley, who led the Thunder in scoring with 18 factors strung collectively a number of hard-earned performs on the basket which additionally earned him a number of journeys to the free throw line. The efficiency marked the second-year ahead’s fifteenth consecutive contest scoring in double figures.

The Kings’ early buckets translated to the second half the place they erupted on a 20-6 run late within the third body that took what was already a commanding lead and put it nicely out of attain. Whereas the Thunder’s offense had cleaned up its miscues and continued its decided drives to the rim, it wouldn’t have the ability to decelerate the sharp-shooting of Sacramento’s offense that obtained going from the very outset.

“I believed the most important situation in that was our first half protection,” stated Daigneault. “I simply thought they gained some confidence, the Kings did, simply because the sport was coming somewhat bit simple to them. We we’re a bit somewhat too gentle on the ball, somewhat too gentle in our assist and I didn’t assume we had the aggressive grit that we would have liked to have on that finish of the ground to present ourselves an opportunity tonight.”

Coming into the Thunder’s matchup with the Kings, Coach Daigneault was intrigued to see how his giant beginning lineup of Pokuševski, Bazley, Isaiah Roby and Moses Brown would operate offensively and create for each other. Because the Kings continued to modify closely on the defensive finish, the 7-foot Brown discovered a method to take benefit below the rim. After a display that switched a a lot smaller participant onto him, Brown acknowledged the benefit he had instantly and labored to seal his positioning proper below the rim.

On the catch, Brown elevated for a bucket whereas additionally taking over contact that resulted in a 3-point play the quaint manner.

“With the ability to seal him, get the ball and flush it’s simply enjoying to my benefits,” stated Brown. “I feel I’ve come a good distance in terms of my consciousness of that.”

Doesn’t get a lot simpler than that. #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/VaSQTbTOUk

— Bally Sports activities Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) Might 10, 2023

16

It was the 3-point capturing of Sacramento that led to the Kings potential to take command of this recreation. Their 16 made triples at a 44.4 p.c clip additionally helped to spice up 4 completely different Kings gamers above 15 factors and eight gamers whole in double figures.

“On the finish of the day, it’s about studying and nobody likes to lose however we’re there for one another. We all know what we’re attempting to do and we’re simply studying and attempting to get higher each recreation.”
–Aleksej Pokuševski

“Video games like this assist us develop, particularly a visit like this the place we get to play them later within the week. We get to take what we’ve realized right now and apply it to the following state of affairs.”

–Moses Brown

The Thunder could have a break day in Sacramento to earlier than tipping off towards the Kings for the third time in eight days. From there, solely two video games stay for the Thunder who will then return to OKC to shut out the season towards the Jazz on Friday and the Clippers on Sunday.