The OKC Blue found their rhythm Tuesday night and kept it rolling, picking up a 127-118 home win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce. It was a statement performance from a squad that’s been searching for momentum this season-and they may have just found it.
Right out of the gate, the Blue came out firing. They jumped to a 31-21 lead after the first quarter, setting the tone with crisp ball movement and efficient shot-making.
But Sioux Falls wasn’t going to roll over. The Skyforce exploded for 42 points in the second quarter, flipping the script and briefly seizing control.
By halftime, OKC had managed to cling to a slim 63-61 lead, but the game had officially turned into a shootout.
The third quarter saw both teams trading buckets, with neither side able to create separation. After 36 minutes, the scoreboard read 91-91-dead even, and setting up a fourth quarter where every possession mattered.
That’s when the Blue made their move.
With the game tied at 104 and under seven minutes to play, OKC flipped the switch. They ripped off a 19-5 run that broke the game open and left the Skyforce scrambling.
Payton Sandfort capped off the surge with a dagger three, pushing the lead to 123-109 with just over a minute to go. That shot sealed it.
No need for late-game dramatics or overtime heroics-the Blue had done enough.
The numbers back up the performance. OKC shot a scorching 56% from the field and knocked down 15-of-34 from deep, good for 44.1%.
They were efficient at the line (14-of-18) and unselfish with the rock, dishing out 27 assists on 44 made baskets. Eight different players hit double figures-a balanced attack that kept the defense guessing all night.
Sioux Falls wasn’t far behind in terms of effort. The Skyforce shot 46% from the floor, hit 15 triples of their own (on 41 attempts), and had 29 assists. But they couldn’t match OKC’s fourth-quarter burst, and that was the difference.
Let’s take a closer look at some standout individual performances:
- Trevor Keels was the offensive engine for the Blue, pouring in 33 points on 12-of-21 shooting, including a red-hot 8-of-15 from beyond the arc. He was in rhythm all night and gave the Skyforce fits from deep.
- Josh Christopher added 25 points, battling through a tough shooting night (9-of-24 overall, 2-of-9 from three) but still finding ways to impact the game with seven boards and three assists.
- Anthony Pritchard made the most of his minutes, tallying 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting, while also handing out nine assists and grabbing five rebounds. He was a steady hand in the backcourt.
- Dennis Smith Jr. flirted with a triple-double type line: 10 points, 11 assists, five rebounds, and three steals. He controlled the tempo and made plays on both ends.
- Keshad Johnson brought the energy, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds, plus a pair of steals. His hustle on the glass and perimeter defense helped fuel OKC’s late run.
On the Skyforce side:
- Nikola Topic had a strong showing with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three. He looked confident and composed.
- Chris Youngblood added 21 points and five rebounds, providing a consistent scoring punch throughout.
- Brooks Barnhizer was a force on the boards with 13 rebounds to go along with 12 points and two steals. He did a little bit of everything.
Despite the loss, Sioux Falls showed why they’re a tough out in the G League. But this night belonged to the Blue. With the win, OKC improves to 7-14 on the season-still a long road ahead, but this kind of performance can be a turning point.
If they can bottle that fourth-quarter execution and keep spreading the scoring load, the Blue might just be heating up at the right time.