The OKC Blue faced a challenging night against the Salt Lake City Stars, falling 123-106 on the road. This defeat nudged their season record to 7-16.
From the start, the Blue found themselves playing catch-up. They trailed 28-26 after the first quarter, and despite a solid 30-point effort in the second, they couldn't seize the lead. The game remained tight, with neither team pulling ahead by more than single digits.
By halftime, the Blue were down 64-56. The third quarter saw their deficit grow, as they managed 25 points but fell further behind, entering the final frame down 93-81. The fourth quarter offered little solace, as the gap widened to as much as 22 points, and the Blue wrapped up with another 25 points.
Shooting-wise, the Blue hit 47% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, going just 11-of-42 (26.2%). Their free-throw performance also left room for improvement at 10-of-17. On a brighter note, they tallied 27 assists on 40 made baskets, with six players reaching double figures in scoring.
In contrast, the Stars were more efficient, shooting 51% overall and a sharp 45.7% from three-point range (16-of-35). They also capitalized on their free throws, making 12-of-15, and recorded 29 assists on 42 baskets, with five players in double digits.
Key performances included:
- Chris Youngblood: 17 points, 7-of-15 shooting, six assists, five rebounds, three steals.
- Jabri Abdur-Rahim: 20 points, 8-of-14 shooting, six rebounds.
- Zhaire Smith: 16 points, 4-of-10 shooting, eight rebounds, four assists.
- Dariq Whitehead: 12 points, 5-of-12 shooting.
- Max Abmas: 28 points, 8-of-11 shooting, six assists.
- Sean East II: 26 points, 9-of-18 shooting, eight assists.
- Justin Harmon: 23 points, 8-of-14 shooting, six rebounds.
- Mo Bamba: 14 points, 5-of-11 shooting, 13 rebounds, two blocks.
Despite the loss, the Blue showed flashes of potential with multiple players contributing across the board. However, the Stars' sharp shooting and cohesive play proved too much to overcome. The Blue will need to regroup and refocus as they look to turn their season around.