Coach Mark Daigneault gave Jarrett Allen and the Cavs plenty of credit after halting the Thunder's 15-game winning streak on Wednesday night.
What Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault had to say about Isaiah Joe's career-high eight threes in Friday's win
Because of that, Jalen Williams has gone under the radar as a defender. The efficient scoring sticks out, but the 23-year-old is a plus-defender who's helped OKC withstand several injuries throughout the season. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault broke down where Williams has improved the most on that side of the ball.
After the Celtics jumped ahead in the first half, the Thunder put on a defensive masterclass in the final two quarters. Oklahoma City held Boston to just 27 points in the second half, winning the game 105-92, and setting a franchise record with their 15th win in a row.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s MVP candidate, is an All-Star lock. Williams — who is second on the team in points and assists, third in rebounds and is a versatile cog in their top-ranked and historically disruptive defense — is their only other true candidate. That might be Williams’ simplest case.
For an Oklahoma City Thunder team that is 34-6, there has been no shortage of advesity this season. The no excuse Thunder have had to navigate being without Che
Without its two top options in the front court, the Thunder committed to the small-ball vision, and Cleveland had no answer whatsoever. The Thunder overpowered the Cavs with energetic defense and elite shotmaking all over the floor.
The team announced that power forward Chet Holmgren will be re-evaluated in three to five weeks as he continues to recover from a right iliac wing fracture, which is a fracture on the right side of his pelvis. His initial timeline was eight to 10 weeks.
Mark Daigneault commends Cason Wallaces improvement as the Thunder defeat the Sixers 118-102, showcasing team resilience and player development.
The Thunder's blowout of the Cavaliers was borne out of a 30-2 run spanning the middle of the first quarter to the beginning of the second quarter.