Pokusevski nets first triple-double in OKC win
Aleksej Pokusevski's teammates snuck up behind him as Pokusevski was being interviewed postgame by Thunder sideline reporter Nick Gallo.
Pokusevski spotted the oncoming dousing out of the corner of his eye, but it was too late.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Darius Bazley, Josh Giddey and Aaron Wiggins jumped Pokusevski and showered him with cups of water.
“I mean, I don't know what to say,” Pokusevski told Gallo. “That's a team.” Pokusevski deserved the celebration. He notched his first NBA triple-double — 17 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds — in the Thunder's 117-96 win over the Suns on Sunday night at Paycom Center.
Poku became the seventh player in Thunder history to record a triple-double. And at 20 years and 98 days old, Pokusevski became the 12th-youngest player in NBA history to have a tripledouble. His teammate, Giddey, became the youngest earlier this season.
“That's a nice personal accomplishment,” Pokusevski said, “but that wouldn't matter if we didn't win.”
Pokusevski got off to a dreadful start, which certainly didn't foreshadow his splendid finish.
In the first half, Poku was a teamworst minus-17. He had three points, three assists, two rebounds and five turnovers. He shot 1-of-5 from the floor.
In the second half, Poku was a teambest plus-19. He scored 14 points on 6of-9 shooting, and he had nine assists and eight rebounds.
“The first half wasn't the best for me,” Pokusevski said. “I was thinking, what should I do better, and I was just being more aggressive in the second half.”
Pokusevski played 36 minutes in the victory, and a good chunk of his playing time came at point guard.
Just a friendly reminder that he's 7feet tall.
“I mean, he's one of a kind,” Thunder center Olivier Sarr said. “He's as tall as me, and can really see over the defense, find the open guy, great IQ, really unselfish, pushing on the break. That's all we need. He's an unbelievable talent, and he had a great night.”
Theo Maledon is the Thunder's primary point guard right now, but with so many other guards out, Pokusevski is one of the next-best options.
“He was playing point guard on offense, but he's also guarding perimeter players that are going to be playing deep into the playoffs this year,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “Obviously a really good showing for him.”
Sarr steps outside
When Sarr converted a four-point play early in the fourth quarter, you pretty much knew the game was over.
Just about everything was falling for the rookie Frenchman.
“Being a big, you're jealous when the guards have four-point plays all the time,” Sarr said with a smile. “It felt great.”
Sarr shot 5-of-6 from 3-point range, and 9-of-12 overall in his 22 minutes off the bench.
It's a tiny sample, but he's shooting 13-of-27 (48%) from 3-point range this season.
Sarr is playing on a two-way contract, and he's trying to establish himself as an NBA player.
“Every night is a job interview for me,” Sarr said.
As a team, the Thunder shot 17-of-41 (42%) from 3-point range. The Suns were just 7-of-38 (18%).
That gap decided the game.
CP3 returns to OKC
Daigneault's first impression when he met Chris Paul?
“I couldn't believe how small he was,” Daigneault said. “Usually when you see the great players, you can't believe how big they are. When you first see LeBron James up close you're like ‘Oh my god, this guy's the smartest player in the league and he's that big?
“The fact that (Paul) has dominated the league for the time that he has at that size speaks to his intelligence, his skill and then his toughness.”
Paul played in front of the Thunder's home crowd Sunday night for the first time since being traded to Phoenix 16 months ago.
Fans weren't allowed at Paycom Center last season, and Paul didn't play in the Suns' first trip to Oklahoma City this season.
Paul is just two seasons removed from playing for the Thunder, but Isaiah Roby was the only Thunder player suited up who was a teammate of Paul's. Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort, Bazley and Mike Muscala are the other holdovers from the 2019-20 team, but all are out for the rest of the season.
Bazley and Muscala greeted Paul with hugs before the game.
Bazley was a rookie in Paul's lone season with the Thunder. Paul mentored Bazley.
“(Bazley) might have thought his rookie year that every team had a guy like that,” Daigneault said. “The longer (Bazley) plays, the more he's going to understand that that's pretty unique.”
Paul had a quiet night with 11 points and nine assists in his 30 minutes.
NBA draft lottery outlook
After the Pistons beat the Pacers on Sunday, the Thunder rose to third from the bottom in the lottery standings.
That lasted all of a few hours, as the Thunder turned around and stunned the Suns.
OKC shot the ball well and played tough defense, but Phoenix wasn't exactly playing to its usual standards.
Three Phoenix starters were resting: Deandre Ayton, Jae Crowder and star shooting guard Devin Booker.
The Suns still had the far superior team, but they don't have much to play for having already locked up the No. 1 seed in the West.
The Thunder doesn't have much to play for either, but it does have eight guys who are fighting to stay in the NBA.
In meaningless April games, that alone can swing a result.
Looking at the lottery standings, Orlando and Houston comfortably occupy the bottom-two spots, and it looks like OKC and Detroit are going to be jockeying for the third spot.
The Pistons (23-56) have won three games in a row, one of which was against the Thunder (23-55). Half a game separates the two teams with only a week to play.
The difference between third and fourth in the reverse standings? Third has a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick. Fourth has a 12.5% chance.
The team that finishes fourth from the bottom can fall to eighth on lottery night, while the team that finishes third can fall no lower than seventh.
Injury update
Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort, Bazley, Giddey, Muscala, Derrick Favors and Ty Jerome are all out for the season.
Kenrich Williams is officially doubtful to return, but he's almost certainly done.
Tre Mann might be the next addition to the list with only four games to play. Mann has missed the Thunder's last four games with a right hamstring strain, and Daigneault didn't sound confident that Mann will return this season.
“We're working through it,” Daigneault said before the game.
OKC had nine players available Sunday night, which was one above the minimum.
Jaylen Hoard, who signed a 10-day contract with the team, will remain on the roster through the end of the season.
Thunder vs. Trail Blazers
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
TV: Bally Sports Oklahoma (Cox 37/HD 722, DirecTV 676-5)
Stream: DirecTV Stream
Radio: WWLS 98.1 FM
Three things to know
h The Thunder and Trail Blazers are fourth and sixth respectively in the reverse standings. Portland has lost seven games in a row. OKC has won three of its last six games. h The Thunder beat the Blazers 134-131 in overtime last week in Portland. This will be the fourth and final meeting between the divisional foes. OKC leads the season series 3-0. h Fun fact: OKC is 0-4 on Tuesdays. Eight of the Thunder’s 23 wins (35%) have come on Wednesdays.