The Oklahoma City Thunder had this one in hand early, then watched it slip away.
After building a 20-point lead, Oklahoma City fell 82-77 to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night in the Salt Lake City Summer League, dropping to 0-2 in the event. Atlanta kept chipping away, and the Thunder never fully recovered once the game turned in the second half.
Payton Sandfort was the bright spot for OKC. The second-year guard poured in 25 points and knocked down four 3-pointers, continuing a strong start to summer after Oklahoma City made the surprising decision to release him from his two-year, two-way contract before Summer League began.
Against Atlanta, he was efficient from everywhere, finishing 6-for-10 from the field and 4-for-6 from deep. He had scored 13 points in the opener against the Memphis Grizzlies despite a less consistent shooting night, and his early production is at least putting his name firmly into the conversation among two-way hopefuls.
Aday Mara also gave the Thunder plenty to like. The first-round big man finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots, and his defensive impact showed up right away.
After a slow start on Saturday, Mara came out with much more force against Atlanta, altering shots at the rim, forcing turnovers and making his presence felt from the opening tip. His offense was solid too, as he scored 10 points for the second straight game.
The one blemish was a 5:1 turnover to assist ratio, much of it tied to forced passes inside the paint.
On the other side, Zuby Ejiofor powered Atlanta with 19 points and 15 rebounds.
The Thunder’s rookie guards had a rougher night. Bennett Stirtz finished with nine points on 4-for-14 shooting, including 1-for-7 from long range, and added three assists against three turnovers.
He spent much of the night being defended by fellow rookie Kingston Flemings, who brought a strong defensive profile to the matchup. Otega Oweh also struggled to finish, going 1-for-7 from the floor for four points.
He defended well and kept attacking the rim, but the looks around the basket just didn’t fall.
Those kinds of bumps are part of the Summer League grind, especially this early in the careers of young guards.
Oklahoma City is back in action tomorrow at 8 p.m. against Darryn Peterson and the Utah Jazz. The game will air on PrimeVideo and ESPNU.
In Other News...
Thunder May Be Denying Cason Wallace The Role He Wants
Cason Wallace already looks like one of Oklahoma Citys most important young pieces, and last seasons All-Defensive Second Team nod only reinforced how quickly he has earned trust on that end of the floor. He is also eligible for a rookie extension, which makes his next step more than just a development question for the Thunder. Wallace has made it clear he wants a bigger on-court role, and there is a real case for him to push for more than the steady reserve minutes he has handled so far.
The problem for Wallace is that the roster seems to be tilting in a direction that keeps him in the same lane for now. Oklahoma Citys recent moves point toward continuity in the backcourt, even as the depth chart around him changes, and that could leave him as a key scoring option off the bench rather than a starter. For the Thunder, that arrangement may still make sense, since a larger reserve role could help Wallace sharpen his game, boost his value, and set up a more interesting negotiation down the road. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Williams Offers Thunder Fans A Brutal Warning In Brunson Situation
Jalen Brunsons wrist injury has put a familiar kind of cautionary tale back in the spotlight for Thunder fans, because Jalen Williams went through a similar ordeal and learned how tricky the road back can be. Williams played through a dominant shooting wrist issue during Oklahoma Citys title run, and his experience showed that even when a player is able to stay on the floor, the injury can linger in ways that affect everything from shot-making to overall rhythm.
Williams recovery also served as a reminder that the first games after a return do not always look like a clean reset. The broader point for Oklahoma City is simple enough: wrist injuries can be unpredictable, timelines can stretch, and getting back into the lineup is not the same thing as immediately getting back to peak form. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Face Another Huge Cason Wallace Decision This Offseason
The July moratorium has passed, but there still has not been any public update on a rookie extension for Cason Wallace, leaving one of Oklahoma Citys quieter offseason questions unresolved. The Thunder have shown a willingness to move deliberately after the moratorium before, and with the front office signaling a desire to keep the core together, Wallace remains part of a roster puzzle that is still being sorted out.
Wallace has given the Thunder plenty to think about after a career-best season that included All-Defensive Second Team recognition, and he is now heading into the final year of his rookie deal with bigger responsibilities in mind. He wants a full-time starting role, but the path to that kind of jump is not simple, and the next few decisions around the backcourt could say a lot about how Oklahoma City sees his place in the long term. [Read more 🡒]