Recap: Grizzlies (2-2) def. Thunder (2-2) 124-119

Official Box Score

Game Notes:

• Terrance Ferguson was out tonight because of a (thankfully harmless) car wreck on the way to the arena. Andre Roberson still out while recovering and coming back from his knee. Hamidou Diallo out with the flu. Chris Paul out because of old. Someone please put Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Steven Adams in bubble wrap for the next 10 days.
• Dak Prescott wants $40 million a year from the Dallas Cowboys. After that Adams full court football launch to hit Danilo Gallinari in stride over an outstretched defender with his feet just landing in bounds, Jerry Jones is on the phone with Sam Presti trying to trade a 1^st round pick for the Big Kiwi and save $15 million a year.
• Shai finishes so well at the rim that I would’ve trusted him to deliver my newborn son last Sunday night.
• Darius Bazley and Deonte Burton both had spinning layups at the end of the 1^st quarter. Apparently Billy Donovan has installed the MJ offense. The other MJ.
• The Thunder set up a lot of open looks at the top of the key for their best three-point shooters. From screens to drive and kicks, it’s a noticeably purposeful point of focus in the offense.
• Bazley has vision. It’s in all his scouting reports. Still, we wondered if it was a fluke in Summer League. Then he had a couple nice passes in the Blue White scrimmage and the Thunder’s first couple preseason games. And tonight, he hit a filthy pass to Gallo for an open 3 in the corner after driving to the rim, elevating, and on his way down with a defender right on top of him. I think it’s just what he does. And he’s a 19 year old 6’9” forward with handles. Subscribed.
• Dillon Brooks falls down on a three-point attempt. Kyle Anderson slips attempting to help Brooks up. Thunder ball boy cleaning crew lowkey could be a big part of the OKC defense this year.
• I just saw Abdel Nader make a pass on a fast break to the rim. Give Donovan that contract extension right now.
• With zero research into whom the other candidates might be, I am throwing my hat into Shai for Most Improved Player this season. #journalism
• I know it doesn’t matter like it did before, but I fully believe that Presti’s Mike Muscala signing would’ve proven to be a big improvement over Patrick Patterson + Markieff Morris at the backup 4 spot. Moose could’ve been a nice bench piece on a Russ-PG led team. Those who ridiculed Presti for the move won’t get a chance to eat the crow they deserve because it will largely go unnoticed now.
• The Grizzlies were winning big for most of the second half, but an OKC starting lineup without CP3 nor TFerg whipped up a mostly intact Grizzlies starting lineup in the first half of the game. A Paul, Adams, SGA and Gallo core four will keep the Thunder competitive for as long as they’re together. For some Thunder fans, that’s a sigh of joyous relief, while for others, it’s a cause for lottery concern.
• Some are worried about the Thunder crowds dwindling after the loss of Russ and PG, but I’d say that a more than half-filled Peake for a Wednesday night preseason game against the Grizzlies is pretty impressive. The blue and orange sky may not be falling after all.