Thunder finally take a lead ——> Kings go on an 11-0 run.

quick 9-0 run by OKC in response.

CARUSO 3 AND ITS TITANIUM TIME!

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Aaron Wiggins 18 points 6 rebounds 6 assists 3 blocks (!!!) 1 steal +6

Mark Daigneault on OKC’s clutch time preparation and play in 4 of 5 games to start the season: “The biggest thing is exposing guys to different situations and encouraging critical thinking… It’s about preparing the team to think on the fly.”

Mark Daigneault: “It hasn’t been a masterpiece of execution but I think we’ve flexed our resilience muscle through this stretch.”

Small school. “Old” for a rookie. Not a top tier athlete. Sometimes those guys fall for lack of a perceived ceiling. But a lot of times the most important trait is overlooked: the ability to hoop.

OKC’s three-point percentage in its 5 wins this season: 25.0 percent 37.8 percent 28.6 percent 20.0 percent 31.8 percent

point totals: 30, 23, 31

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on OKC’s ability to win tough games like tonight: “Just the DNA of this team. We understand how to win basketball games.” SGA said the team had mental lapses tonight but fought through it. “When it was winning time, we did what it takes to win.”

SGA on winning a close, back and forth game: “It felt good. Adversity is how you learn. That’s how we view it. The harder the games, the more prepared we’ll be.”

SGA on Ajay Mitchell: “He has so many tools... And he’s showing the world that now.”

Another Ajay Mitchell podium game. “I’m just really focused on making the right play every time I’m on the floor.”

Ajay Mitchell on his offseason focus: “Definitely getting stronger. That was one of the main things for me going into my sophomore year.” But he says he’s been working on his entire game. “I want to be a complete player.”

Ajay Mitchell was asked what areas of his game he feels he needs to improve on: “To be honest, every area. I’m still learning a lot. I still need to work on a lot of things.”

Lu Dort on Ajay Mitchell: “He’s really comfortable. That’s the big thing. Every time he has the ball, I always expect him to make a big play. I’ve seen that since training camp and the year before that.”

The Thunder being 5-0 having shot only 28.8 percent from 3 so far is kind of bonkers. For reference, per Basketball Reference, a team winning five straight games having shot that poorly from 3 has only happened three other times since 2021-22 outside of the months of March/April.

the floor is the ceiling

we’re watching The Leap