January 8, 2022 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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4 January 8, 2022 Sports Thunder vs. Timberwolves: Five takeaways from OKC’s loss at Minnesota Joe Mussatto, The Oklaho- “We got off to a slow start,” Williams’ 25 minutes. started to sleep. three for three. Wednesday. Roby is the only man Thunder coach Mike Wilks “He’s probably the most “Wake the f--- up, y’all,” he Giddey, who’s biggest weak- Thunder player in protocols, said. “Some uncharacteristic respected guy on the team,” told his teammates midway ness is his outside shot, drilled but OKC is still missing coach MINNEAPOLIS — The turnovers. But guys were able Wilks said. through the fourth quarter. a pair of 3-pointers in the Mark Daigneault. Thunder had as many turn- to settle down, settle in.” Variations of that line have “This is our time.” fourth quarter. The second “It’s hard having pieces in overs (10) as points (10) in the After the Thunder’s 10 turn- been repeated throughout the Karl-Anthony Towns, back made it a two-point game with and out throughout this time, first quarter. overs in the first quarter, it last two seasons. in Minnesota’s lineup for the just under eight minutes to but every team has to deal with It was the Thunder’s worst only turned the ball over seven “He was himself,” Shai Gil- first time in two weeks, had 17 play. it, so you can’t really use it as offensive quarter of the sea- times over the next three quar- geous-Alexander said. “Obvi- points and 16 rebounds. “Making them come up and an excuse,” Giddey said. son. Bad enough to trail the ters combined. OKC even man- ously a big part of this team.” Backcourt breakdown respect that three is going to Luguentz Dort (knee sore- volatile Timberwolves by 20 aged to outscore Minnesota Williams should be one of Gilgeous-Alexander had a be big for me going forward,” ness) and Derrick Favors points — 30-10. 20-17 in points off turnovers, the most sought-after wings at rough first half. Really rough. Giddey said, “because it’s go- (lower back soreness) were out And yet it was a one-point but that wasn’t enough. the Feb. 10 trade deadline. The Thunder’s star point guard ing to open up so many other Wednesday night. game midway through the “We didn’t come out ready Darius Bazley didn’t shoot had four points on 1-of-6 things.” Robinson-Earl didn’t clear (Almost) full strength health and safety protocols fourth quarter. to play like we should have,” the ball well, but credit his ef- shooting. until after the team flew to The Thunder stopped turn- Thunder guard Josh Giddey fort, too. He turned things up in the Gilgeous-Alexander, Bazley, Tre Mann and Jeremiah Rob- Minneapolis on Tuesday af- ing the ball over, and the Tim- said. “Those turnovers, a few of He kept plays alive by fight- second half with 15 points on ternoon. Robinson-Earl took inson-Earl all returned from berwolves left the door open them were on me. Just sloppy ing for loose balls. Bazley fin- 4-of-9 shooting. He was 5-of-5 a separate flight Wednesday health and safety protocols. for the rarely-say-die Thunder. plays we usually don’t make.” ished with 10 points and seven from the free throw line in the Bazley and Mann missed five morning. OKC outscored Minnesota Here are four more take- rebounds. He was a team-best second half. games. Robinson-Earl missed Despite the quick trip, and by seven points in the second aways from the game: plus-15 in his 24 minutes. Giddey finished with 14 four. Gilgeous-Alexander having just recovered from quarter, and seven more in the Williams boosts bench Wilks closed the game with points, 15 rebounds, six assists missed just one. Gilgeous-Al- COVID-19, Robinson-Earl third quarter. Has anyone ever mentioned Bazley on the floor. and six turnovers. exander said he registered one started. But then the Thunder’s of- that Kenrich Williams could Beverley for three Before the game, Timber- inconclusive test, followed by “Honestly I don’t know what fense dried up again. At the help a contender? Anthony Edwards led the wolves coach Chris Finch said three negative tests. That’s why to expect, but I did talk to Jer- most crucial of times. Just show them the tape Wolves with 22 points, but Pat- Giddey has a mix of Luka Don- his absence was so brief. emiah,” Wilks said before the The Thunder scored two from Wednesday night. rick Beverley’s outside shoot- cic and LaMelo Ball in him. “You’re used to playing every game. “We’ll play it by feel to- points between the 5:30 and Kenny Hustle had 10 points, ing swung the game. Aside from the high turn- other day, and then you miss night.” 2:30 marks in the fourth four steals and a season-high Beverley was 5-of-9 from over count, Giddey continues one game and it turns into Robinson-Earl played 22 quarter as Minnesota out- nine rebounds. Five of those 3-point range — one make shy to put together stacked lines. four days,” Gilgeous-Alexander minutes, a good chunk of lasted OKC 98-90 on a snowy were offensive rebounds. of tying his career high. The back-to-back Western Con- said. which were spent guarding Wednesday night in Minne- The Thunder outscored the Beverley was also the Tim- ference Rookie of the Month is Center Isaiah Roby entered Towns. Not exactly a warm apolis. Timberwolves by 10 points in berwolves’ spark when they well on his way to making it health and safety protocols on welcome back. Gabby Gregory’s absence in Iowa State game unrelated to prior injury Jesse Crittenden, The Nor- day has nothing to do with Baranczyk also confirmed on locker room, she’s always the I think from that standpoint Against Iowa State, Wash- man Transcript her prior injury coming back. Tuesday that Llanuca will miss first one to give feedback,” Ba- she’s still a vocal leader on this ington finished with 11 points She’s out for different health the remainder of the season ranczyk said. “And she’s still team.” and two assists. On the season, Need to know and safety protocols,” Baran- due to a leg injury she suffered doing that. You can watch her —Immediate impact: Kel- Gabby Gregory made her cyzk said. “It’s just kind of the on Dec. 10 against BYU. The on the floor talking through bie Washington, former Nor- she’s averaging 7.5 points and season debut against Texas way this world is working right redshirt senior had been a key defensive rotations, you can man High and current Sooner a team-high 4.4 assists. Tech on Sunday after missing now.” contributor to the Sooners this watch her one on one on the guard, has already made an im- Next the team’s first 12 games with While Baranczyk’s com- season, averaging 17.1 points bench telling people what she’s pact this season. The Sooners get two days an injury, playing 10 minutes. ments imply that Gregory will and 4.1 rebounds. seen. Washington was named However, the junior guard return from health and safety While Llanuca is out for the “Those are the things that the Big 12’s Freshman of the off before traveling to take on didn’t play in Oklahoma’s protocols at some point, her season, Baranczyk said she has she did when she was out Week on Monday after break- Kansas at 4 p.m. Saturday. 81-71 loss to Iowa State on eventual return will be a wel- continued to play a big role as there playing, and those are ing the Sooners’ freshman Jesse Crittenden is the Wednesday. But Sooners’ come addition to the Sooners. a leader. the things that she’s doing single-game record of 14 as- sports editor of The Transcript coach Jennie Baranczyk said Last season, Gregory started “Ana’s one that whenev- now, just in a different seat. sists against Wichita State and covers OU athletics. Reach Gregory’s absence was not re- all 24 games and averaged 16.6 er you’re in a team setting, Although we’d all love to have last week. She also recorded lated to her injury. points and 4.7 rebounds per whether it’s in a circle after her back out on the floor, we 10 points and seven assists him at jesse@normantran- “Gabby not [being] here to- game. practice, whether it’s in the still want her in that seat. So against Texas Tech on Sunday. script.com or at 405-366-3580 The Graham Jam A Giddey New Year for OKC By Graham Dudley The Oklahoma City Thunder were hard to keep track of last rebounds and 14 assists in the 95-86 loss. week. Who is out? Who are these new players? And who is this Giddey became the youngest player to ever guy on the sideline? notch an NBA triple-double, at 19 years and Oklahoma City has already used an interim coach once this sea- 85 days, surpassing LaMelo Ball's record son – assistant Dave Bliss, in November while Mark Daigneault from last season. was out awaiting the birth of his son. But when Daigneault entered Giddey insisted after the game that he'd COVID-19 health and safety protocols last week, Bliss went with have been happier with a scoreless victory him, leaving him unable to take over. than a triple-double effort in a loss. "It's So in stepped Mike Wilks, a former journeyman player and always been that way for me, and always Thunder scout in his third year as an assistant coach for the team. will be," Giddey said. "But yeah, it's a cool With his temporary promotion to the front of the bench, Wilks milestone." became the first Thunder player – he appeared in four games for Giddey later tweeted the word "history" Oklahoma City in 2009 – to coach the team. and a heart emoji, followed by "I love my "I always tell people the best thing about my job is the people I team." get to work with every single day," Wilks said before his debut on Other Thunder have been taking advan- Dec. 28 against the Kings. "I don't feel like I'm heading into this tage of the increased playing time, too. situation by myself, which gives me an extreme amount of comfort Aaron Wiggins, the first-year guard from and peace of mind. I know our coaching staff, players, everybody Maryland on a two-way contract, has has my back." emerged as one of the team's best scorers of After Wilks notched his first victory on New Year's Eve versus late. And Ty Jerome put up a career-high 24 New York, his team doused him with water in the locker room and points on Dec. 29 against Phoenix. presented him the game ball. Wilks was still on the sideline on Despite the cool opportunities and his- Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey drives to the basket against Sunday against Dallas, as the team awaits Daigneault's exit from toric moments, there's no doubt that COVID Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton during the second half at Paycom protocols. has slowed the Thunder down as they've Center. (Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports) Wilks isn't the only feel-good story on the team. Before the now lost three of their past four ballgames. Dallas game, Josh Giddey left COVID-19 protocols but Shai As of Monday, OKC sits at 13-23 for the road contest against Minnesota. They'll then turn around and play Gilgeous-Alexander entered them. It was a big blow to OKC's season, which is 2 games back of the 10th seed and 3.5 games the very same Timberwolves team on Friday night, this time in winning chances, but a rare opportunity for Giddey to run the point ahead of Houston, owners of the Western Conference's worst Oklahoma City, before rounding out the weekend with a Sunday- and grab some extra playing time. record. night home tilt against Denver. The result? A triple-double for Giddey, with 17 points, 13 The Thunder will return on Wednesday, Jan. 5, for a 7 p.m. Thunder Up!