Stiles Points: Value of OKC Thunder's Style of Play on Display in Loss to Pacers
On Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder saw their nine-game home winning streak snapped at the hands of the Indiana Pacers. The Thunder's Hoosier state foes were able to pull off the victory by beating OKC at their own game.
In just the team's seventh home loss this season, 20th overall against 45 wins, the Thunder played as though it was opposite day.
While Oklahoma City won the rebounding battle and second-chance points, a rare feat, the Thunder were obliterated in points in the paint, dominated in fastbreak points, and lost the turnover battle. All typical staples of Thunder wins.
Indiana had a game of bucking trends. Not only did they topple Oklahoma City in their best categories, but they survived the Thunder's massive third-quarter run with an uncharacteristic defensive game digging in to prevent the Thunder from racking up another double-digit point comeback.
Down their second scoring option, and with the Indiana playing a better pace than Oklahoma City, the Thunder fell by ten.
The Pacers were able to use the same winning formula the Thunder typically do and put on display why OKC has been so successful this season.
Stiles Points
- Jalen Williams missed Tuesday's game with an ankle sprain but continued to move around well at shoot-around, warm-ups and even after the game. Thursday's game against Dallas looms large as we await the verdict on his playing status.
- Chet Holmgren logged a 15-point and 13-rebound double-double highlighted by a sequence that saw him swat a shot at the rim run the floor hard in transition and flush a put-back jam to erupt the crowd.
- Two-way guard Adam Flagler produced 29 points against Iowa on Tuesday as Olivier Sarr (Ankle) returned to the hardwood for the OKC Blue.
- Lu Dort turned in 3-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc and took over the third frame to the tune of eight points, two assists and a steal on 3-for-3 shooting from the floor in the quarter.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an uncharacteristically slow game getting to 30 points on 44 percent shooting from the floor, but reaching that mark again gave the Thunder superstar the most 30-point games in a single season in team history surpassing Kevin Durant.
- Cason Wallace handled his matchups with Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton extremely well, playing up on screens not allowing the guard to earn a mismatch. While Wallace thrived on the defensive end, he also hit trio of timely triples including a contested corner 3-pointer to pull Oklahoma City within one. With Wallce posting another double-digit game off the pine, he continues to show how valuable he is both now and in the future.
Song of the Day: Shakedown Street by Grateful Dead.
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