The OKC Blue faced off against the Salt Lake City Stars in a high-octane clash, ultimately falling short with a 137-126 loss. This road defeat puts the Blue at a 7-15 record for the season.
Right from the tip-off, it was clear this was going to be a shootout. The Blue, coming off a week-long break, found themselves trailing 31-29 after the first quarter. The game remained tight through the second quarter, with OKC posting 36 points but still entering halftime down 70-65.
The third quarter was where things unraveled for the Blue. Despite putting up 32 points, their defense couldn’t contain the Stars, who exploded for 41 points. This surge pushed OKC into a 111-97 deficit heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth, the Blue managed 29 points but couldn’t close the gap to single digits, trailing by as much as 20 points at times. The game ended with an 11-point margin, reminiscent of an intense NBA 2K matchup.
From the field, the Blue shot an impressive 50% and hit 15-of-38 from beyond the arc (39.5%). Their free throw shooting was efficient at 9-of-11. They also dished out 34 assists on 48 made baskets, with six players scoring in double figures.
The Stars, however, were even more efficient, shooting 58% from the field and 41.2% from three-point range (14-of-34). They were 15-of-25 from the charity stripe and had 23 assists on 48 baskets, with six players also hitting double digits.
Key performances included:
- Chris Youngblood, who contributed 25 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
- Zhaire Smith, who was nearly flawless with 26 points on 12-of-15 shooting.
- Anthony Pritchard, who added 11 points and a remarkable 13 assists.
- Kyle Rose, who chipped in 18 points, hitting 3-of-7 from deep.
For the Stars:
- Max Abmas led with 33 points, nailing 7-of-12 from three.
- Sean East II added 25 points and six assists.
- Matthew Cleveland was solid with 21 points and eight rebounds.
- Dereon Seabron scored 23 points and grabbed five boards.
The Blue will look to regroup and tighten up defensively as they continue their season.