The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder returned residence on Wednesday night time after a 4 sport highway stretch, trouncing the Indiana Pacers 126-106. The win marks 4 in a row for OKC, and strikes the squad’s season document to 22-23.
Lacking star guard Tyrese Haliburton, rookie guard Andrew Nembhard led the way in which for the Pacers with 18 factors. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Joe had been Oklahoma Metropolis’s main scorers, tallying 23 factors apiece.
The Thunder had been scorching out of the gate, beginning the competition 4-for-4 from the sphere and taking an 11-1 lead that resulted in an Indiana timeout lower than three minutes into the sport. Popping out of the timeout, Lu Dort and Kenrich Williams each knocked down 3-pointers that elevated the OKC result in 17-1 and drew one other timeout from Pacers Head Coach Rick Carlisle.
Indiana missed a number of layups within the first quarter, serving to the Thunder preserve their early lead. On the finish of the opening body, Oklahoma Metropolis held a 36-20 benefit over the Pacers.
Early within the second interval, OKC started to chill down offensively, failing to attain within the first three minutes of the quarter. A shot off the glass from Nembhard minimize the Thunder result in 9, which brought about head coach Mark Daigneault to name his first timeout.
Just a few moments later, Pacers middle Myles Turner knocked down a triple that introduced Indiana inside 5. Forward 40-37, Dort related on a shot from past the arc the prolonged Oklahoma Metropolis’s lead again to 6.
After a spectacular take to the basket by Dort and Joe’s third triple of the sport, OKC’s lead was again to 9 with simply over three minutes left within the half. After Joe and Dort every nailed one other 3-pointer, the Thunder led the Pacers 58-44 on the break.
20-year-old Josh Giddey began the second half by shelling out a number of assists and pulling down a pair pictures of his personal, serving to Oklahoma Metropolis preserve tempo with Indiana after the Pacers got here out of halftime firing. OKC moved the ball round effectively your complete night time, notching 40 assists as a group.
After a triple from Jalen Williams and a mid-range shot from Gilgeous-Alexander capped off a 14-0 run, the Thunder led 87-63 with three minutes remaining within the third quarter. Oklahoma Metropolis handed the century mark within the third, and heading into the ultimate body, Indiana trailed 100-73.
A 12-2 run early within the fourth quarter minimize OKC’s result in 19, however a operating floater from Giddey rapidly ended the run. Joe discovered the underside of the web for his fifth 3-pointer of the sport on the following possession 109-85.
Joe stole the ball on Indiana’s subsequent two possessions, pulling down two free throws and throwing a pleasant lob move to Aaron Wiggins. This shut the door on any likelihood of a Pacers comeback, and the Thunder would go on to win 126-106.
Oklahoma Metropolis travels to Sacramento for a matchup towards the Kings on Friday, Jan. 20 at 9 P.M. CT.
Need to be a part of the dialogue? Like SI Thunder on Fb and observe us on Twitter to remain updated on all the most recent Thunder information. You can too meet the group behind the protection.