Watch: Summer Thunder League coach David Akinyewe on Ousmane Dieng’s night against the Grizzlies
Watch: Summer Thunder League coach David Akinyewe on Ousmane Dieng’s night against the Grizzlies
Joe Musato, Oklahoman
SALT LAKE CITY – Tre-Man has had a tough sophomore season, and while three summer league games won’t erase those woes, Man-Tree can hold his head high after putting the finishing touches to a dominant Salt Lake City summer campaign.
Mann hit the biggest bucket of the game on Thursday to lead the Thunder to a 100-91 win against the 76ers. In a game where the Thunder held a 31-point lead, Mann’s triple-double with 2:12 left in the fourth quarter decimated a Sixers comeback.
The Thunder, now in the Las Vegas Summer League, went 2-1 in Salt Lake City. In those three games, Mann averaged 23.7 points on 55% shooting. Mann went 10 of 24 (42%) from behind the arc. If the tournament’s player of the year award is awarded, Mann will have a strong case.
“I’m trying to find better shots, and I felt like that led to me being more efficient,” said Mann. “That was the main key for me, trying to be on point and play at a good pace and show my maturity. I’m proud of the way I did it. A few turnovers I could have cleaned up…but for the most part I feel like I was on real alert.” “.
Mann scored a game-high 23 points Thursday on 7-of-15 shooting. He grabbed eight rebounds and five assists.
more: Tre Mann looks great in the NBA Summer League, but what is his place in the OKC Thunder’s future?
Osman Dieng settled down
Ousmane Dieng gradually improved over the Thunder’s three games in Salt Lake, capping off a stellar performance on Thursday against the Sixers.
“I think I got better yesterday and today,” said Ding, who scored 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting.
Thunder’s coaching staff wants Dieng to play “hard”. In other words, make his presence felt. Insert himself into the game.
Ding did on Monday. He seemed like a more relaxed and confident version of himself.
“He had a mismatch playing all five,” said Thunder Summer League coach David Akinyewe. “I thought he did a good job running our offense as well.”
Ding, who played minutes at center in the absence of Chet Holmgren and Jaylen Williams, recorded 10 rebounds, three steals and three assists.
He also had nine turnovers for the team. The Thunder, down a few key ball players, were having trouble making the game the crowning glory.
Players not on the list get a chance
Thursday’s offer is a great opportunity for non-roster players like Caleb McConnell, Hunter Maldonado, KJ Williams, Jaden Shackelford, Zhaire Smith and Jahmi’us Ramsey to play important minutes with the Thunder.
Both Maldonado, a six-year player from Wyoming, and Williams, who transferred from Murray State to LSU, both started.
“We played a group of these guys today, and those guys were ready, we went in and played the right way,” said Akinyoye.
Zayer Smith shines
Five years ago, Zaire Smith finished 16th in the NBA draft.
But by his sophomore season, the former Texas Tech star was out of the league. He appeared in just 13 games for the 76ers. He dealt with injuries, and at one point was hospitalized for several weeks due to a severe allergic reaction.
Fighting to get back into the league, Smith made an appearance on Thursday night’s Thunder game.
Smith, a non-roster invitee, scored 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting.
Casson Wallace: Game time decision
Will he play Casson Wallace?
It looked that way when the Thunder, including a fully-dressed Wallace, ran out of the tunnel for warm-ups. But when the starting lineup was revealed, Wallace’s name was missing.
Soon after the information, Thunder disqualified Wallace. OKC’s overnight trade with Dallas to acquire Wallace with the 10th pick has been made official, but Wallace’s rookie contract with the Thunder has yet to be processed by the league.
Thursday was the first day Wallace could sign with the Thunder, but the paperwork had not been completed prior to a tip-off.
Still in uniform, Wallace sat in the middle of Thunder’s seat.
The rookie guard from Kentucky is expected to make his Summer League debut Saturday in Las Vegas.
more: How did ex-OKC Thunder land the former Tanner Groves to the NBA Summer League?
Thunder Hints
– Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Jalen Williams, Jeremiah Robinson-Earle and Kuntay Johnson came out with thunder.
Thunder’s coaching staff wore orange jerseys. Kind of a pale burnt orange.
The two teams combined for 46 turns in a 40-minute match.
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