23/82: December 5th vs. OKC

Final Score: Raptors 92, Thunder 129

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a damn good basketball team, everyone.

The Raptors fell behind by 17 at the end of 12 minutes. The lead only ballooned from there.

A bad shooting night prevented RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes (as well as Chris Boucher off the bench) from making more of an impact on the final score. Despite the team’s shooting woes, Toronto’s three leading scorers finished with respectable point totals - Barrett (17), Jonathan Mogbo (17), and Gradey Dick (15).

Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is currently fourth in the NBA in points per game at 29.8ppg. Giannis Antetekounmpo leads the league with 32.6ppg. The scary thing is, SGA could probably score more. In his last five games, he’s finished with point totals of 35, 36, 32, 26, and 30 Thursday against his hometown team.

He was supported Thursday night by 20 points from Jalen Williams and 16 rebounds from Isaiah Hartenstein, who added two points.

Aside from free throws (85%, 82.4% for OKC), Toronto lacked in every team statistic. Perhaps most glaring were the 20 turnovers. OKC leads the NBA with 12 steals per game, a sparkling reflection of their stifling team defense.

The Thunder also sit third in the league in blocks per game at 6.6, just a smidge behind the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic (6.9bpg). It’s no wonder they quickly overwhelmed Toronto.

Question for the Thunder: Currently holding a 2.5 game lead in the Western Conference, will Oklahoma City GM Sam Presti unload some of the treasure trove of draft picks for another key player or will he see what this team can do in the playoffs as currently constructed?

The Raptors host the Dallas Mavericks Saturday night. 7:30pm tip off.