Nuggets and Notes
The Thunder improved to 7-0 to start the season. The last time OKC started 7-0 they won a championship.
Despite a lengthy injury report that saw Lu Dort being added just before game time, Oklahoma City jumped all over New Orleans to start the game. After the first, it was 39-22, and the Thunder continued to cruise after that, scoring 75 points in the first half en route to a 31-point annihilation of the winless Pels.
Shai scored 20+ for the 79th straight game, the second-longest streak in NBA history.
OKC found its stroke from deep for the first time this season, nailing 20-of-48 from beyond the arc, a 41.7% clip. Overall, the team shot 56% from the field. With the Thunder shooting that well, New Orleans really had no hope.
Yes, SGA led the team with 30 points, but eight players scored in double figures, including 11 from Branden Carlson who got the most run he's had all year.
The Thunder's three healthy bigs, Jaylin Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Carlson, were really effective last night. J-Will and Hart combined for 12 assists, and the trio collectively combined to shoot 15-of-24 from the floor to total up 37 points.
Cason Wallace had a fantastic game. he was everywhere defensively, racking up 5 of the Thunder's 12 steals, while having an incredibly efficient scoring night, notching 13 points on just 5 shots.
One Big Takeaway: Depth on Display
Jalen Williams, Thomas Sorber, Kenrich Williams, and Nikola Topic have missed the entire season so far. Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe, Chet Holmgren, Lu Dort, and Cason Wallace have all missed games this year.
And the reigning world champion Thunder is 7-0.
I've been singing the praises of Ajay Mitchell and Aaron Wiggins profusely, but even tonight when Mitchell had his first "down" game of the season, OKC still rolled. Yep, having the MVP certainly helps weather the injury storm, but throughout this 7-0 start, there have been contributors from both likely and unlikely places.
Hart has been on a tear to start the year as an interior presence. Wallace remains a steady presence. Joe has come back firing shots like he's been playing all year. The aforementioned Carlson played 20 minutes last night and put in solid work.
In an 82-game season, you're going to be dealing with injuries, but the Thunder has a luxury that really, no other team in the NBA has–insane depth that gives players time to heal, rest, and recover. There's no pressure to get JDub back on the court before he's 100%. Chet can give his back extra rest. When someone is out, the next man has been stepping up, and if OKC can keep this going, it can manage the wear and tear of the long NBA season better than anyone else.