October 30, 2021 Issue, Page 4 of 14

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October 30, 2021 ‘The Elk City boys cross country team competed in the regional meet Saturday, Oct. 23. The qualified for state. The team placed 3rd. Jack Morgan placed 6th Lane Hargrove placed 10th ‘The team will compete in the state meet Oct. 30. i) Houston, Do We Have a Problem? By Graham Dudley Before we begin, I should clarify: There's nothing wrong points to the hot-shooting Seth Curry. But with Oklahoma City losing some games this season. Indeed, Curry finished with only 28, as the Thunder that's really the whole point — the Thunder have intentionally managed to limit him for the rest of the con- designed their roster to get another good draft pick next sum- test. mer. Meanwhile, the stars started cooking for It's one thing to lose, but another thing to be noncompeti- OKC. Gilgeous-Alexander had a tremendous tive. And it's another thing entirely to be noncompetitive bounce-back performance, finishing with 29 against the Houston Rockets, whose James Harden-less roster points on 9-for-19 shooting. Josh Giddey, the is nearly as young and embryonic as OKC's. Yet that's exactly what happened to the Thunder last Friday ‘Thunder's rookie point guard, had 19 points with eight rebounds and seven assists. WLAN \ night, as they marched into Houston for the second game of Even Muscala came to play again, leading ery the season and were sent packing with a 33-point loss, 124- the bench unit with nine points in 16 minutes, 91, that was never really close throughout. all from made 3s. So, despite a big first-half ‘The Thunder trotted out all 15 of their players on Friday but deficit, the Thunder were able to cut the mar- few found success, save perhaps veteran center Mike gin to just three points in the third quarter Muscala. His hot third quarter left him with 13 points, tied for before the Sixers pulled away again and won, the team high with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Needless to say, 115-103. Moose should probably never lead the Thunder in scoring. But Though the Philly loss knocked OKC to 0-3 that's just how Friday went. The Rockets were hot (50.5% to begin the season, Head Coach Mark Josh Giddey (Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports) from the floor, almost 45% from 3), the Thunder were not Daigneault sounded positive notes after the (about 37% shooting), and Houston picked up a bigger-than- game. "They showed good fight there, coming out of that," the streak this week, and it won't be easy. OKC is about to get expected win. Daigneault said, talking specifically about Philly's run early in a heaping helping of some talented California teams, with nary But hey, it's the second game of the year. The team kept a the fourth quarter. "I think we went down 18 in a hurry. We a Sacramento in sight. They start Tuesday night, Oct. 26, at level head and returned home Sunday to open the newly named had the game kind of under control, and the start of the fourth home against the Warriors before taking on the Lakers here on Paycom Center against Philadelphia. was not great. We responded well to what the game called for. Wednesday. Then it's off to the Bay for a Saturday-night show- ‘They didn't ultimately pick up the W against a tough Sixers "There's a lot of time left in the game, obviously. It's a hard down with Golden State, followed by a SoCal swing against team, but the Thunder looked much better on Sunday night and game to win at that point, but certainly we responded. That the Clippers on Monday, Nov. 1. proved they can hang with anyone with a little determination. was good." All the games can be viewed on Bally Sports Oklahoma. ‘The Thunder got down early after giving up 23 first-quarter While the losses aren't all bad, the Thunder will aim to snap Until next week — Thunder Up! HERE COME THE ———— = devon i @ =“ —. ix _—:,