Balanced Attack Helping OKC Thunder Find Success
The Thunder’s level of play rarely drops, even when stars don’t play.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will need their stars for a deep playoff run, but they are also built to compete when not at full strength.
Through 72 games, Oklahoma City has had some of the league’s best injury luck. Its regular starting five has missed only 12 games combined, including Chet Holmgren, who is yet to miss a game.
Still, in the few situations the Thunder have missed one of their guys, others have been more than prepared to step up. There might be no better examples than the only two games Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has missed.
In the first game the Thunder’s All-Star missed in November, Lu Dort exploded for 29 points and six 3-pointers against the Golden State Warriors. Dort’s In-Season Tournament performance highlighted his improved outside shooting, which he has kept up all season, making 39.7% of his shots from that range.
On the second night of a back-to-back and nursing a quad contusion, Gilgeous-Alexander missed his second game in Wednesday’s 132-126 overtime loss to the Houston Rockets. With Jalen Williams struggling and Holmgren fouling out after playing only 18 minutes, it was Josh Giddey’s time to shine.
One night after hitting a career-high five 3-pointers, Giddey failed to make one, but he still finished with a career-high-tying 31 points. His past two performances continued a string of his improved play.
In March, Giddey has averaged 15.8 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 55% from the floor and 40% from beyond the arc.
Of course, the Thunder needed more than a great game from Giddey to nearly end the Rockets’ 10-game winning streak. Some key role players off the bench proved their importance.
Including his poster dunk on Jeff Green, Isaiah Joe led Oklahoma City’s second unit with 17 points and a career-high six assists. Meanwhile, Aaron Wiggins scored 16, and Gordon Hayward had his highest-scoring night with the Thunder with 13.
Along with supporting performances like those, the Thunder can often rely on their non-stars to make an impact. Although Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren will sometimes have to play hero ball to get the Thunder through scoring droughts or important stretches, an overall balanced attack has led the Thunder to survive without them and thrive with them.
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