Kofi Inkoom
Did we just witness real-life NBA 2K scoreline? Well the OKC Thunder just secured their 10th win of the season and fifth in a row in a video game-esque fashion, all while establishing a new shooting record.
Even in NBA 2K, some feats might be hard to replicate. Yet, the Oklahoma City Thunder defied expectations in the first half of their 134-91 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
OKC resembled a team with fresh legs, not one playing on the second night of a back-to-back. They had an outstanding game tonight, shooting incredibly well with 60.5% accuracy on field goals, an impressive 61.1% on 3-pointers, and a flawless 100% on free throws.
They’ve become the first team in the last 25 years to achieve such high percentages in all three shooting categories in a single game, as per Matt Williams of ESPN.
The Thunder tonight against the Trail Blazers:
60.5% FG
61.1% 3-pt FG
100% FTThey are the 1st team in at least the last 25 years to shoot 60% from the field, 60% on 3-pointers and 100% on free throws in a single game.
— Matt Williams (@StatsWilliams) November 20, 2023
During the second quarter, the Thunder hit 7 out of 9 three-pointers, skillfully maneuvering to find open shooters.
Isaiah Joe continued his remarkable shooting streak, making 5 out of 6 threes for 15 points. Lu Dort also contributed with successful shots.
Apparently, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t get the memo about looking fatigued after his 40-point performance the previous night versus Warriors. In just 23 minutes, SGA effortlessly scored 28 points on 13 shots, adding four assists and three rebounds.
Chet Holmgren, the hero with a buzzer-beating 3 the day before, showed no signs of fatigue either. He went a perfect 6 for 6, scoring 16 points effortlessly.
While the Thunder adhered to most back-to-back rules by rotating 11 players in the first quarter, the final stretch featured lineups emphasizing players like Tre Mann and saw blowout moments with Aleksej Pokusevski and Olivier Sarr sinking a couple of threes.
Next up, Thunder will host the Chicago bulls on Wednesday at the Paycom Center, with tip-off set at 7:00 pm.