NBA Summer League 2022: Five takeaways from the Thunder’s win against the Magic
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
LAS VEGAS — Magic guard Zavier Simpson exposed a possible flaw in Chet Holmgren’s game.
Yes, that Zavier Simpson. The 6-foot-nothing hook-shot specialist who started four games for the Thunder down the stretch last season.
Simpson is at least a foot shorter than Holmgren, and when Holmgren pulled the ball down or put it on the deck in the first half Monday night, Simpson stood at the ideal height to snatch the ball away.
Simpson tallied five steals, and the Thunder committed a whopping 21 turnovers in the condensed 40-minute Summer League game. Holmgren coughed up the ball four times in the first half alone.
Holmgren, however, had the last laugh.
He didn’t turn the ball over in the second half, and he secured the game-sealing rebound in the Thunder’s 84-81 win against the Magic on Monday night in Las Vegas.
Holmgren shot 7-of-10 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range for 16 points. He had 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
As for Holmgren’s turnover trouble?
“I think part of it is just he’s so skilled that he’s seeing a lot of different looks, which is important for us,” Thunder coach Kameron Woods said. “As he goes through these experiences, he’s played against bigger guys, he’s played against smaller guys, he’s played against pressure, he’s played against drop. Not a lot of people can say that …”
Holmgren had a highlight alley-oop finish in the third quarter. The pass from Jalen Williams sailed high, but Holmgren skied and threw it down. Holmgren landed hard but got right back up.
The Thunder outscored the Magic by 15 points when Holmgren was on the floor, which speaks to his impact on the defensive end. Not just by the shots he blocks, but by the shots opposing teams don’t even take out of respect for Holmgren’s length.
Holmgren’s long arms were especially useful late in the game.
He had seen enough of Simpson’s hook shot.
No. 1 vs. No. 2 delayed
The intrigue surrounding Monday night was sapped a few hours before tip-off when the Magic announced that No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero was sitting out for the rest of Summer League.
Everyone at Thomas & Mack Center was geared up for a clash of the top picks: Banchero vs. Holmgren. Instead, it was Holmgren vs. journeyman center Emanuel Terry.
Terry tried to end Holmgren with a second-quarter dunk, but Holmgren leapt to contest the slam and the ball caromed off the iron.
Terry had 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Magic.
Brown gets extended look
Gabe Brown, an undrafted forward out of Michigan State, played 14 minutes off the Thunder’s bench.
Brown isn’t under contract with the Thunder, but he’s with the team as a Summer League invitee.
Brown was an All-Big Ten third-team selection last season for the Spartans. He averaged 11.6 points per game and shot 38% from 3-point range on five attempts per game.
Brown’s shot is funky, but his numbers from college don’t lie. He shot 2-of-5 Monday night.
Among the non-roster players, Brown has played ahead of Robert Baker, Jaden Shackelford, Abdul Gaddy and Kevin Kangu.
Sophomores shine ... mostly
Josh Giddey was good again with 12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
Aaron Wiggins was good again with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl was good again with 12 points and seven rebounds.
But Tre Mann’s ice-cold summer continued.
Mann shot 3-of-14 from the field, including 1-of-6 from three. Mann is shooting 2-of-16 from 3-point range in three Summer League games.
There’s no need to worry, though. It’s a tiny Summer League sample.
“Things will start falling for him,” Woods said. “I don’t think anyone’s worried about that on our side. He has so much gravity that he attracts when he’s out there that he’s still effective even when it looks like he’s not effective.”
Thunder tip-ins
Thunder rookie Ousmane Dieng (rest) was out Monday night.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showed up and sat courtside. Gilgeous-Alexander was one of several Thunder players at the game, including Kenrich Williams, Darius Bazley, Derrick Favors, Aleksej Pokusevski and Ty Jerome.
Former Thunder center Isaiah Roby was also in attendance, but with his new Spurs teammates.
What to know about the OKC Thunder
More:Behind the names of OKC Thunder rookies Jalen and Jaylin Williams
Tramel's ScissorTales: No reason for Chet Holmgren optimism to slow
More:Why Isaiah Roby is 'grateful' for his three seasons with OKC Thunder
More:Why Chet Holmgren shared spotlight with Josh Giddey in ESPN interview
More:Making sense of Thunder's roster crunch before 2022-23 NBA season
More:Behind the names of OKC Thunder rookies Jalen and Jaylin Williams
Tramel's ScissorTales: No reason for Chet Holmgren optimism to slow
More:Why Isaiah Roby is 'grateful' for his three seasons with OKC Thunder
More:Why Chet Holmgren shared spotlight with Josh Giddey in ESPN interview
More:Making sense of Thunder's roster crunch before 2022-23 NBA season
NBA Summer League: Thunder vs. Magic live updates
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Chet Holmgren, OKC Thunder beat Orlando Magic in NBA Summer League
