OKC comeback falls short in summer league
In the first game of the tournament portion of the Las Vegas Summer League, the Thunder lost 92-85 to Memphis. Here are some observations:
Young Thunder ballhandlers learning
The Thunder has used the Summer League to get its young wing players opportunities to play with the ball in their hands more. The result was six turnovers in the first seven minutes against Memphis.
Like the senior team, the Thunder’s best offense is its defense leading to fast break opportunities. OKC’s firsthalf highlight came when rookie Hamidou Diallo snared a defensive rebound and went coast-to-coast for a dunk early in the second quarter to cut Memphis’s lead to two.
But, facing a 21-point deficit at halftime, the Thunder needed more. It rolled off an 11-0 run to start the third quarter by getting out quicker and executing better on the fast break. The coaching staff has been willing to let the young players make mistakes in Las Vegas, but when the opportunities come in transition, they had to capitalize.
By halftime, Daniel Hamilton, P.J. Dozier and Terrance Ferguson had a combined six turnovers. Once the Thunder stopped turning the ball over, it was able to rebound from a 13-4 Memphis start.
With four minutes left, the Thunder cut the Memphis lead to four, with Dozier getting out on the break and finding Diallo for a dunk off a nice bounce pass in stride. But Dozer had two shots snuffed out on drives in the last two minutes on questionable drives into traffic. The lessons continue.
Bright spots
•Hamilton after halftime. The 2016 second-rounder was particularly good in the third quarter, probing in the halfcourt and initiating the fast break with good decisions for five assists. Hamilton committed just two turnovers after halftime, his pace and decisiveness in transition helping the Thunder surge back in the second half.
•Hervey efficient early. The 2018 second-round pick scored seven points on his first shots from every level: A putback, an off-the-dribble 3-pointer and a mid-range jump shot off some good Thunder ball movement. Hervey cooled off, missing five of his last seven shots, but finished with 12 points for OKC.
•Diallo’s drive. The explosive rookie was a spark off the bench, scoring a team-high 14 points (6-of-10 FGs). Diallo and Hamilton were the only Thunder players with a positive plus/minus while in the game.
•Tough Thomas. Oklahoma City native Rashawn Thomas finished with a teamhigh 13 points to go with seven rebounds.
Stat of the day
17-0: Memphis went on a 17-0 run to pull away as the Thunder’s offense went off the rails in a 24-8 second quarter for the Grizzlies. The Thunder has moved the ball well for much of the Summer League, but in the second quarter settled for inefficient shots following a first quarter of solid ball movement.
Memphis rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. (16 points, six rebounds, three blocks, two assists) was dominant, his presence in the paint altering several shots, but the Thunder missed too many shots from close range and reverted to more isolation play in the second quarter. Memphis’s defense ratcheted up to take a 48-27 lead into halftime.
Tip-ins
Former Oklahoma State center Michael Cobbins started for Dakari Johnson, who didn’t dress. Cobbins finished with 10 points ... The Thunder shot 1-of-11 from 3-point range in the first half and 5-of-21 overall . ... Deonte Burton had 12 points and a team-high two 3-pointers . ... Ferguson’s summer league shooting struggles continued (1-of-6) . ... The Thunder will play its final Summer League game Friday at 7:30 p.m., a consolation game against the loser of Thursday's Utah-Orlando game (watchespn. com or NBA TV).
Felton signing official
The Thunder officially announced the signing of veteran point guard Raymond Felton on Thursday.
Felton was a stabilizing addition to the Thunder's bench last season, averaging 6.9 points, 2.5 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 16.6 minutes per game, while posting one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the league (2.5-to-1).
Felton, 34, will make the veteran's minimum $2.39 million this season. The 13-year veteran and Patrick Patterson were the only Thunder players to appear in all 82 regular-season games last season. Felton's signing brings the Thunder's roster to 13 guaranteed contracts including Carmelo Anthony, who is expected to be traded, waived, or waived and his contract stretched over three seasons before the beginning of the season.
NBA teams can carry a maximum of 15 guaranteed contracts, and another two additional roster spots for two-way players. Two-way players are primarily G League players who can spend as many as 45 days with the NBA team, but do not count against the team's salary cap.