With 6.3 seconds left in regulation, Victor Oladipo hit a jumper to give the Thunder a 100-98 win on the road in the next to last game of the regular season. OKC played this game without Westbrook, Gibson, Roberson, and McDermott as all were on a rest night getting ready for the playoffs.
It was an extremely upbeat night for the Thunder as their young players stepped up and competed hard on road. Billy Donovan has to be extremely pleased in what he saw from several of his young players, not only for what they could possibly do against Houston, but more perhaps looking down the road to next season.
Victor Oladipo and Domas Sabonis both showed flashes of what they will mean to this team as both of their roles expand next season.
Oladipo struggled with eight turnovers, but had a line of 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. I’m hopeful now that Westbrook has his place in triple double history, his game becomes more conducive to making Oladipo’s comfort range expand within his game. Together they have to become a tandem, kind of a symbiotic relationship, if this team wants to take their game to a higher level.
Sabonis had some excellent moments as well. His game is there. It just needs time and some work in the weight room wouldn’t hurt. Sabonis had 19 points and 9 rebounds and is clearly going to be a nice stretch four for the Thunder once he matures as a player.
All in all it was an excellent night for the Thunder as they improved their overall record to 47-34 with tonight’s home regular season finale against the Denver Nuggets closing what has been a very solid season in the first in Oklahoma City without Kevin Durant as a member of the team.