The Thunder survived a season worst defensive first half behind a scorching offense, flipped the switch in the third quarter, and did just enough defensively to eventually put away a short handed Hawks team.
OKLAHOMA CITY – The night began without urgency on one side of the floor, as if Oklahoma City needed to feel the heat before respecting the flame.
Inside Paycom Center, the Thunder scored with ease, slicing through the Atlanta Hawks again and again, but on the other end they drifted. Closeouts were a step late. Rotations bent, then broke. Atlanta, battered, short handed, and riding a six game skid, played freely, unburdened by expectation.
The ball hummed around the perimeter, threes fell from impossible distances, and the Hawks kept finding daylight where the Thunder usually cast shadows.
If not for their brilliance on offense, the damage might have been severe. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander steadied everything early, pouring in 15 first quarter points and scoring Oklahoma City’s first eight. Every time Atlanta threatened to pull away, the Thunder answered not with stops, but with buckets. Chet Holmgren floated to the rim. Jalen Williams bullied his way inside. The Thunder kept scoring, kept surviving.
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