The Thunder’s preseason stays winless, but the rookies keep flashing.
Oklahoma City went into Atlanta shorthanded and left with a 113-110 loss to the Hawks on Monday, dropping to 0-3 in the preseason. None of OKC’s rotational players from last season made the trip, and the group that did suit up put together enough moments to make this one interesting all the way to the finish.
Bennett Stirtz was the headliner. The rookie guard poured in 26 points and handed out five assists while shooting 9 for 16 from the field and 6 for 9 from deep in 37 minutes.
Aday Mara added another eye-catching line, finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four blocks on 4-for-9 shooting in 33 minutes. Josh Dix chipped in 16 points and seven assists, giving OKC another strong showing from the rookie group.
Brooks Barnhizer also turned in a productive night with 20 points and eight assists.
It still wasn’t enough to push past Atlanta, even though the Hawks were also missing some familiar names of their own, including former OKC guards Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins. RayJ Dennis knocked down the late 3-pointer that sealed the game for Atlanta.
The Hawks were led by Jock Landale, who scored 17 points, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who added 16.
The game was tight throughout, and the Thunder were right there entering the fourth quarter after tying it at 79-79 through three. Dix had already posted his best preseason effort by then, leading OKC with 16 points while adding two assists and two rebounds in 28 minutes. Mara was making his usual impact too, with eight points, six rebounds, five assists and four blocks by halftime.
At the break, Atlanta held a 56-49 lead behind 13 points apiece from Alexander-Walker and Landale. The Hawks opened the night with a 29-28 edge after one quarter, while Mara led OKC early with five points, four rebounds and three assists in nine minutes. Zuby Ejiofor paced Atlanta in the first quarter with six points, one assist and one rebound in five minutes.
OKC is now 0-3 in the preseason and moves on to a home game against Indiana at 7 p.m. CT Tuesday.
In Other News...
Thunder Preseason Suddenly Belongs To The Young Players Fighting For Spots
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Thomas Sorber Is Becoming A Real Thunder Roster Question
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For a frontcourt group that is already sorting through its own minute distribution, Sorbers situation adds another layer of uncertainty. He remains out for Mondays game against the Atlanta Hawks, and with Aday Mara turning in a strong preseason, the competition for those minutes only gets tighter as Oklahoma City waits to see when Sorber can finally start making his case on the court. [Read more 🡒]