Without eight Thunder players making the trip out to San Antonio, including three of the teams projected starters (Dort, Bazley, Horford) the Thunder still were able to defeat the Spurs 121-108. The game was controlled by the Thunder the whole way through, taking the lead with 5:01 in the 1st quarter and never looked back. They had amassed a lead of 20 points in the early stages of the 3rd quarter. Their lead had shrunken down to just 2 points with 6 minutes to go in the 4th, but they fought back, going on an 8-0 run of their own to push the game out of reach for the Spurs.
All of the Thunder players were on the same page against the Spurs as they had seven players score in double-figures. The team’s leading scorer was none other than Theo Maledon, as the 2nd round pick out of France came off the bench and dropped 20 points on 7-14 shooting, along with five rebounds and two assists in just 29 minutes of play. Maledon dazzled those watching doing really everything, hitting 3s, getting shots to go inside, and getting his teammates open for good looks.
Aleksej Pokusevski also put on a display, Pokusevski, the teams first round draft pick started the game off slow shooting just 1-6, but was able to bounce back hitting 4 of his last 6 shots for a grand total of 14 points. He also was active on the glass with 8 rebounds, and racked up 2 assists as well. Thunder newcomer Frank Jackson also make a good first impression with the team scoring 14 points going 6-11 showing a wide array of abilities on the offensive end, getting shots to go off the catch and shoot, creating shots of his own in the mid-range, and attacking the basket.
Returning Thunder players Mike Muscala and Hamidou Diallo also had their fair share of success on Saturday. With Muscala scoring 18 points shooting a perfect 5-5 from the field, with four of those coming from the three. And Diallo picking up a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Thunder hope to continue their success as they head back to Oklahoma City for their last two preseason games against former Thunder Head Coach Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday and Friday.