Oklahoma City’s first preseason game is in the books, and it was an action-packed performance from both teams, as the Thunder defeated the San Antonio Spurs 112-107.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort sat out the preseason opener, and while we had a good idea of what to expect from Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, all eyes (well, my eyes) were on Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, second-year player Cason Wallace, and Thunder rookies Dillon Jones and Ajay Mitchell.
There wasnโt much to take away from the preseason opener, but I noticed a couple key things:
Hartenstein is a stat-stuffer
No matter the situation, Hartenstein knows how to make the most of his minutes, and he showcased that tonight. In his first 10 minutes, he tallied 5 assists and 6 rebounds, finishing the game with 4 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in just 17 minutes. His plus/minus of +20 speaks for itself.
One of his early highlights came just two minutes into the game, when he found Alex Caruso on a no-look pass in the lane. The thought of him sharing meaningful minutes with Holmgren is an exciting prospect.
Sam Presti may have struck gold again
While itโs important to avoid overreacting to the first 25 minutes of their preseason careers, itโs clear Sam Presti may have struck gold once again with his mid-major rookies, Ajay Mitchell and Dillon Jones.
Each offers a different dynamicโMitchell is a cerebral guard who can create his own shot, while Jones is a versatile, do-it-all player who provides a little of everything on offense and solid defense.
Neither looked out of place in their professional debut, combining for 36 points on 16-of-24 shooting (66.6%).
We all know not to overreact to a single game, let alone a preseason game without two key players, but itโs hard not to take away something positive from what we saw. Hartenstein, Mitchell, and Jones were the clear standouts on Monday night.
One last quick tidbit: Jalen Williams only played 17 minutes but made the most of it, scoring 18 points on 50% shooting. We already know what heโs capable of, but he looked a little stronger, a little quicker, and more polished, just as expected from OKCโs hard-working wing.
The same can be said about Chet Holmgren, who left the game after nine minutes. However, he made a notable impact in that short time, scoring 10 points, including an impressive dribble handoff from fellow 7-footer Isaiah Hartenstein for a driving finish at the basket.
This versatile Thunder team will play their preseason home opener on Wednesday night against the Houston Rockets.
