NBA Summer League: Jalen Williams, Tre Mann Shine to Defeat Utah Jazz
On Monday, the Oklahoma City Thunder kicked off their summer league debut as they squared off with the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City in a match featuring a pair of highly touted rookies: Chet Holmgren and Keyonte George.
But it was both Jalen Williams and Tre Mann that would steal the show on their way to leading Oklahoma City over Utah to a 95-85 victory. Williams led the way, scoring 21 points, while Mann poured in 20 points to go along with seven boards and three steals.
The sophomore guard from Santa Clara was able to draw first blood to get his offense going early, finding an easy floater before draining an open 3-pointer and from the top of the key. and then moments later, waltzing into the paint for a layup to earn the Thunder’s first nine points of the game.
The other Jaylin Williams then found his way on the scoreboard after hitting a mid-range floater. That was followed by a deep pull-up 3-pointer by the Thunder’s third-year guard, Tre Mann.
To close out the quarter, Jared Butler was able to secure a Thunder lead on a smooth reverse layup, giving Oklahoma City a small leg up on Utah heading into the second frame, 16-13.
After getting off to a slow start, the Thunder’s second overall pick last year, Holmgren, finally scored his first points of the match at the beginning of the second quarter, dropping in a push-shot off the glass before finding a few layups throughout the first half of the frame to give him eight points.
But the story of the third quarter was undoubtedly Jalen Williams, who exploded for 19 points to give the Thunder a 55-39 lead with a little more than a minute remaining before the halftime break.
Tre Mann carried over his production from the first half to produce the Thunder’s first points, kicking off the third frame by burying a couple of 3-pointers – one from 25-foot; the other from 26-feet – to give him 16 points on the night.
After playing for the Thunder’s G League affiliate all last season, Jaden Shackelford provided the only offense over the next several minutes, drilling home a pair of 3-pointers to get things going on offense and keep the Jazz at bay, 79-55.
A late 3-pointer from an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming, Hunter Maldonado, would extend the Thunder’s lead to 82-62 heading into the fourth and final frame.
Playing with a 20-point cushion at the start of the fourth quarter, the Thunder quickly gave up four points to the Jazz before Shackelford was able to answer with a bucket.
Moments later, Holmgren was able to knock down a pair of free throws and find his fourth block of the game, making sure to put an exclamation mark on his effort to protect the rim throughout the match before taking a seat around the seven-minute mark.
Down the stretch, the Jazz were able to cut the Thunder’s lead to just eight points with about four and a half minutes to go, but Shackelford once again was able to provide the answer on offense, drilling another 3-pointer to give him 11 points on the night.
To secure a victory in the midst of a late push from the Jazz, Mann checked in off the bench to drill a mid-range shot and a floater. And Jaylin Williams was able to find a goal-tended layup and position himself to take a charge shortly thereafter to ensure the Thunder’s first win of summer league play.
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