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Cason Wallace Cason Wallace logs 24 minutes in Game 6 loss
Sat, May 18, 2024, 11:02 PM
Cason Wallace shot 2-of-8 from the field in Saturday's 117-116 loss to the Thunder, scoring five points with one assist, one steal, one block, and one 3-pointer in 24 minutes.
Analysis: Wallace didn't offer much production in Game 6, but Josh Giddey's struggles led to the rookie figuring more prominently in the Thunder rotation this series. The first-round pick averaged 21.5 minutes per game against Dallas, four more than his average against the Pelicans in the first round. Wallace wasn't worth selecting in most redraft leagues before this season, but that could change in 2024-25. That will depend on what happens with Giddey, who is eligible for a rookie extension this summer. Does Oklahoma City extend him, or do they attempt to use Giddey to strengthen the roster (especially the frontcourt)? If Sam Presti decides to make a move, Wallace is one player who could benefit. |
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Luguentz Dort Luguentz Dort records 11/3/1/3 line in Game 6 loss
Sat, May 18, 2024, 10:54 PM
Luguentz Dort shot 3-of-10 from the field and 3-of-3 from the foul line in Saturday's 117-116 loss to the Mavericks, amassing 11 points, three rebounds, one assist, three steals, and two 3-pointers in 32 minutes.
Analysis: After shooting 52.2% from three in Oklahoma City's first-round sweep of New Orleans, Dort reverted to form against the Mavericks. He shot 31.7% from distance against Dallas, averaging 6.8 attempts per game. Dort was slightly worse from the field overall, shooting 31.1% while averaging 10.5 points per game. Providing offense after defending Luka Doncic certainly isn't easy, but Oklahoma City will need continued growth from Dort as they look to contend in the West. Until that happens, he will continue to have a limited fantasy ceiling. |
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Josh Giddey Josh Giddey plays 11 minutes in series finale
Sat, May 18, 2024, 10:48 PM
Josh Giddey shot 1-of-3 from the field in Saturday's 117-116 loss to Dallas, accounting for two points, four rebounds, and one assist in 11 minutes.
Analysis: After playing well in the final three games of Oklahoma City's four-game sweep of New Orleans, Giddey offered little value against the Mavericks. He played 17 minutes in the series opener and no more than 13 in any of the five games that followed. For Games 5 and 6, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault replaced Giddey in the starting lineup with Isaiah Joe due to the need for a floor spacer. The former lottery pick is eligible for a rookie-level extension this summer, but it's fair to wonder if he's the âodd man outâ in Oklahoma City. Giddey, who had a Yahoo ADP of 58.9, finished the regular season ranked well outside the top 100. If he remains with the Thunder, he shouldn't be selected with a top 100 pick. |
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Isaiah Joe Isaiah Joe hits three 3-pointers, scores 11 points
Sat, May 18, 2024, 10:43 PM
Isaiah Joe played 29 minutes in Saturday's Game 6 loss to the Mavericks, tallying 11 points (4-of-7 FGs), three rebounds, three assists, one steal, and three 3-pointers.
Analysis: Despite struggling in Game 5, Joe remained in the starting lineup for Game 6. He rebounded, shooting 3-of-4 from three and reaching double figures. Joe hasn't been much more than a fantasy streamer during the regular season in Oklahoma City, but he, Cason Wallace, and Aaron Wiggins are worth watching this summer. Josh Giddey, who went from starter to playing limited minutes, is extension eligible, and this could be viewed as an opportunity to move him this summer. If so, Joe, Wallace, or Wiggins could be in play as a late-round option, depending on the potential return. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams posts 22/9/8/2/1 line on Saturday
Sat, May 18, 2024, 10:34 PM
Jalen Williams accumulated 22 points (8-of-16 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), nine rebounds, eight assists, two steals, one block, and three 3-pointers in 37 minutes in Saturday's loss to the Mavericks.
Analysis: Oklahoma City's season ended on Saturday, as they were on the wrong end of a one-point loss in Game 6. Williams had a productive night, shooting 50% from the field and scoring 22 points with a full stat line. However, his overall efficiency as a scorer took a hit compared to how he played in Oklahoma City's first-round sweep of New Orleans. JDub shot 42.9% from the field against Dallas after making nearly 53% of his attempts against the Pelicans. Overall, this season was very good for Williams, who provided top 50 per-game value in 8- and 9-cat formats. After beginning this season with a Yahoo ADP of 65.7, JDub should be a 4th-round player at worst in drafts this fall. |
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Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren records 21/3/1/2 line in Game 6 loss
Sat, May 18, 2024, 10:24 PM
Chet Holmgren finished Saturday's Game 6 loss to the Mavericks with 21 points (9-of-15 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), three rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one 3-pointer in 35 minutes.
Analysis: Despite scoring 21 points, Holmgren's final game of the season wasn't his best. More concerning than the 1-of-7 night from three was the rebounding, with the rookie only grabbing three. By comparison, Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II grabbed 15 by himself. Holmgren's struggles to rebound prompted Thunder coach Mark Daigneault to go with a bigger lineup down the stretch, with Jaylin Williams (6/2/2/1/1 with one 3-pointer in 18 minutes) joining the rookie in the frontcourt. Overall, Holmgren had an excellent rookie campaign, finishing second to Victor Wembanyama in Rookie of the Year voting and providing top-20 per-game value in 9-cat formats. Based on his Yahoo ADP, Chet was expected by many to be a 4th-round player. Those days are over; he should not get out of the third round in standard league drafts, and that's being conservative. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 36 in Game 6 loss
Sat, May 18, 2024, 10:19 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot 14-of-25 from the field and 4-of-7 from the foul line in Saturday's 117-116 loss to Dallas, accounting for 36 points, three rebounds, eight assists, two blocks, and four 3-pointers in 43 minutes.
Analysis: Gilgeous-Alexander's foul of PJ Washington on a 3-point attempt proved to be the difference in Game 6, as the Mavericks forward hit two free throws with 2.5 seconds remaining to end the series. That final play should not take away from SGA's performance throughout the series, as the MVP runner-up was outstanding. As for Gilgeous-Alexander's fantasy season, he was all that managers hoped he would be. SGA provided top-5 per-game value, which is unlikely to change anytime soon. While Victor Wembanyama is viewed by many as the player who should be selected first in drafts next fall, SGA should be, at worst, a top-5 pick. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams limited to 12 points in Game 5 loss
Wed, May 15, 2024, 11:39 PM
Jalen Williams shot 6-of-13 from the field in Wednesday's loss to the Mavericks, scoring 12 points with six rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 39 minutes.
Analysis: After scoring at least 19 points in all four games of Oklahoma City's first-round sweep of New Orleans, JDub has been held in check by Dallas. Game 3 was the only game in which he scored 20 points or more, and he shot 11-of-32 from the field in Games 4 and 5. The steals production has provided DFS players with some production, but Williams has to be more productive as a scorer if Oklahoma City is to force a decisive Game 7. Game 6 is on Saturday night in Dallas. |
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Isaiah Joe Isaiah Joe offers minimal value in spot start
Wed, May 15, 2024, 11:32 PM
Isaiah Joe played 21 minutes in Wednesday's Game 5 loss to the Mavericks, accounting for six points (2-of-9 FGs), three rebounds, and two 3-pointers.
Analysis: Thunder coach Mark Daigneault changed the starting lineup for Game 5, with Joe replacing the ineffective Josh Giddey. Joe picked up two quick fouls and could not offer much value in his 21 minutes on the court. While Giddey (11 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one 3-pointer) shot 5-of-8 from the field, the minutes total (12) is a clear sign that he isn't trusted in this series. The question ahead of Saturday's Game 6 is whether or not Daigneault will stick with Joe as the fifth starter. And even if Giddey receives the nod, he's unlikely to get the minutes needed to be of value to DFS players. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores team-high 30 points
Wed, May 15, 2024, 11:18 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander logged 43 minutes in Wednesday's 104-92 loss to the Mavericks, accounting for 30 points (12-of-22 FGs, 4-of-6 FTs), six rebounds, eight assists, two steals, one block, and two 3-pointers.
Analysis: Gilgeous-Alexander had another big scoring night, as he's scored at least 29 points in all five games in this series. However, he didn't have as much help as needed, with Chet Holmgren (13/4/1/0/1 with one 3-pointer) being the best of the rest. Dallas is making SGA work, but he continues to get his numbers. Whether or not the Thunder can force a Game 7 on Saturday night depends on whether SGA's supporting cast increases its production. |
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Isaiah Joe Thunder starting SGA, Joe, Dort, JDub, Holmgren
Wed, May 15, 2024, 8:09 PM
NBA Lineups
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Isaiah Joe, Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren will start Wednesday's Game 5 against the Mavericks.
Analysis: Oklahoma City has changed its starting lineup, with Joe replacing the ineffective Josh Giddey. With the defensive-minded Dort on the court, playing two non-shooters together wasn't working for the Thunder. Giddey has lost minutes to Joe, Cason Wallace, and Aaron Wiggins throughout the series. He might remain in the rotation, but it's unlikely that Giddey will reach 15 minutes. |
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Josh Giddey Josh Giddey logs 12 minutes in Game 4 victory
Mon, May 13, 2024, 11:42 PM
Josh Giddey only logged 12 minutes on Monday and finished with five points (2-of-8 FGs), two assists, one steal, one block and one triple against Dallas.
Analysis: Giddey played well over the final three games of their first round sweep of the Pelicans, but he hasn't been able to replicate that success against Dallas. He has been a liability on both ends of the floor, which has resulted in him playing just 13.3 minutes per game through the first four games. Mark Daigneault hasn't moved him to a reserve role yet, but he has basically been splitting minutes with Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe and Cason Wallace. Joe ended up starting the second half in place of Giddey in this one. Don't expect Daigneault to make a starting lineup change now, but all four players should continue to see minutes in the low teens, with the hot hand seeing a larger role. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams turns in 14/9/6/4 line in Game 4
Mon, May 13, 2024, 11:38 PM
Jalen Williams struggled with his shot on Monday but still finished with 14 points (5-of-19 FGs), nine rebounds, six assists and four steals against the Mavericks in Game 4.
Analysis: JDub didn't have an efficient shooting night, but he still found ways to be effective and impact the game. His four steals were the most that he has had in a playoff game, and he had a pair of clutch buckets with less than two minutes left in the game to give them a late five-point lead. JDub was better offensively against New Orleans than he has been against Dallas, but with this series tied up, he'll get a fresh start in a new best-of-3 series that will start with Game 5 on Wednesday. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drops 34 in Game 4 win
Mon, May 13, 2024, 11:31 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 34 points (14-of-27 FGs), eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks in a 100-96 win over Dallas in Game 4 on Monday.
Analysis: This was an important game for the Thunder to win to be able to reclaim homecourt advantage and avoid a 3-1 hole in the series. With the pressure at its highest, OKC's superstar rose to the occasion. He has been spectacular all series, and he once again put the team on his back. From the six minute mark to the four minute mark in the fourth quarter, SGA singlehandedly went on an 8-2 run to tie the game, and he had three assists after that to help seal the win. They'll head back home for Game 5 on Wednesday as they look to take a 3-2 lead. |
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Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren accounts for 13 points, four blocks
Sat, May 11, 2024, 5:51 PM
Chet Holmgren accumulated 13 points (5-of-9 FGs, 3-of-5 FTs), eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, and four blocked shots in 35 minutes in Saturday's Game 3 loss to the Mavericks.
Analysis: Holmgren blocked four shots in the first quarter of Game 3, which would be it for his production in that category. The rookie has been solid this series, but the advantage in athleticism that he experienced against New Orleans has not been there. And Oklahoma City having two non-shooters in its starting lineup doesn't help matters concerning offensive spacing. We've seen adjustments to account for that in the last two games, with Josh Giddey's playing time decreasing sharply, but the Thunder need more from Holmgren and the other non-SGA rotation players to win this series. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams (ankle) dishes out eight assists
Sat, May 11, 2024, 5:47 PM
Jalen Williams (left ankle injury) finished Saturday's Game 3 loss to the Mavericks with 16 points (7-of-12 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), six rebounds, eight assists, one block, and one 3-pointer in 38 minutes.
Analysis: Williams injured his ankle during the second half of Saturday's defeat but was back on the court after a brief spell in the locker room. His return was great news for the Thunder, who have failed to come up with an answer for Dallas' PJ Washington in the last two games. Washington scoring is one thing, but Oklahoma City's âsupporting castâ has not done enough offensively to support Shai Gilgeous-Alexander properly. Williams' 16 points were second-most on the team in Game 3, with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Joe scoring 13. They will all need to be better in Game 4 on Monday, as Dallas now leads the series two games to one. |
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posts 31/10/6/1/5 line
Sat, May 11, 2024, 5:39 PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander logged 42 minutes in Saturday's 105-101 loss to the Mavericks, finishing with 31 points (10-of-23 FGs, 9-of-10 FTs), 10 rebounds, six assists, one steal, five blocks, and two 3-pointers.
Analysis: Gilgeous-Alexander recorded another gaudy stat line, but his offensive production tailed off during the second half. It's possible that getting poked in the eye during the third quarter had something to do with this, as SGA shot 1-of-6 from the field in the fourth. Gilgeous-Alexander still played 42 minutes on the day, so DFS players and bettors should not be too concerned regarding his potential availability for Game 4 on Monday. That said, the other Thunder starters need to up their offensive production, as none of the four scored more than 16 points in Game 3. |
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Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren records 11/6/6/0/2 line Thursday
Thu, May 9, 2024, 11:51 PM
Chet Holmgren finished Thursday's Game 2 loss to Dallas with 11 points (4-of-12 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), six rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and one 3-pointer in 37 minutes.
Analysis: Having scored 19 points in Oklahoma City's Game 1 win over Dallas, Holmgren's production took a significant hit in Game 2. He shot 33.3% from the field, but the good news is that he was able to record six assists. Dallas, with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, offers more athleticism in the middle than New Orleans' Jonas Valanciunas did in the first round. Holmgren can still be effective, as evidenced by his play in Game 1, but it won't be easy. He'll look to bounce back in Game 3 on Saturday in Dallas, with the teams tied at 1-all. |
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Jalen Williams Jalen Williams tallies 20 points, full stat line
Thu, May 9, 2024, 11:45 PM
Jalen Williams finished Thursday's Game 2 loss to the Mavericks with 20 points (7-of-17 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), four rebounds, four assists, one steal, one block, and two 3-pointers in 39 minutes.
Analysis: After shooting nearly 53% from the field in Oklahoma City's four-game sweep of the Pelicans, Williams' shooting has taken a hit against the Mavericks. Between Derrick Jones Jr. and PJ Washington, Dallas is far better equipped to defend JDub than New Orleans was, which explains why he shot 40.6% from the field in Games 1 and 2. The good news for DFS players is that he's kept the turnovers in check, committing one in each game. Williams will look to put forth a better effort in Game 3 on Saturday afternoon. |
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Josh Giddey Josh Giddey limited to 11 minutes in Game 2 loss
Thu, May 9, 2024, 11:38 PM
Josh Giddey played 11 minutes in Thursday's loss to the Mavericks, accounting for eight points (3-of-6 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs) and two rebounds.
Analysis: If the first two games of this series are any indication, this may not be the series for Giddey. After logging 17 minutes in Tuesday's Game 1 victory, he played 11 in Game 2, with Aaron Wiggins starting the third quarter. Wiggins, who finished with nine points, two rebounds, one block, and one 3-pointer, can serve as another floor spacer to open up driving lanes for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Giddey, whom Mavericks center Daniel Gafford sometimes defended, does not possess that ability. Don't be surprised if Giddey continues to lose minutes to Wiggins and Cason Wallace (six points, three rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 21 minutes) moving forward. |
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