by Michael Doutey
Thunder are without PG for personal reasons. Andre Roberson, Russell Westbrook and Abdel Nader are also out. Alex Abrines will play but limited minutes.
Neither Blake Griffin or Reggie Jackson played for Detroit.
Starters are Dennis Schroder, Terrance Ferguson, TLC, Patrick Patterson and Steven Adams.
Pick and Roll early for Dennis and Steven. Dennis lobs a perfect pass to Adams for the Thunder’s first points. Next possession Dennis uses Adams screen and gets to rim and scores over Andre Drummond. Dennis said last weekend that he already feels comfortable with Steven.
Schroder showing off his mid range jumper, much like Russell Westbrooks.
Ferguson does a great job of setting up Patterson for three off the dribble drive, something Ferg struggled mightily with at Summer League.
Schroder feeling it now as he pulls up and hits a three in transition. If he can hit that consistently then he is an absolute steal for OKC. Timeout Detroit.
Dennis Schroder’s command of the game and the offense is very apparent. It looks like he’s played with OKC for a while not just a week or so in training camp.
Jerami Grant comes in for Patterson.
Diallo in for Ferg and Noel in for Adams.
Now Ray Felton in for Dennis and Abines in for TLC.
Zaza Pacullia booed by fans. In a preseason game. LOVE IT.
Abrines gets in and makes his first three. This is an important year for Alex. It’s the last year of his deal. He needs to show consistency shooting this year if he wants to last with OKC or in NBA beyond this season.
Thunder end first quarter with a 28-26 lead.
Noel comes in and pokes a ball away from a potential post up and Noel, Grant and Diallo all lead a three man fast break. The length and athleticism of those guys in the open court is a nightmare for other teams.
Noel has been doing a nice job of rim protecting. He has at least one block and several altered shots.
Jerami Grant is a bit off. Just can’t get a few of his awkward/contorted finger rolls to fall.
Dennis and Steven come in at 8:32 mark. Lineups of Dennis, Alex, Diallo, Grant and Adams.
Dennis has a great ability to freeze the defense for a moment with a hesitation dribble and it allows Adams to get into a better passing lane.
TLC and Ferguson in for Abrines and Diallo.
TFerg with another nice set up to Adams. This time it was off the pick and roll. Adams missed though, but these are the things that he didn’t do well in Summer League.
Dennis lobs with Steven are a thing of beauty already. Adams and Schroder in the PNR is giving Detroit fits.
Patterson back in for JG.
Schroder has a multitude of passes out of the PNR that have really helped Adams clear defenders and get open. Schroder has great vision. Is also willing to pass to the wing out of the PNR with Adams. He has great feel for the game and what is going on on the floor.
Steven Adams gets an offensive rebound. Holds in the post and then finds a really nice TLC back cut with a perfect pass behind the back.
Preseason T on Billy D. Hasn’t liked a few calls in the first half and has had it.
Half. OKC leads 52-49
Dennis Schroder has put on a clinic. 17 points, six assist and four rebounds.
Steven Adams has been awesome too. 14 points, six boards and two assists.
Same starters to open second half for OKC.
Defensive miscommunication to open half for OKC. Too easy for Detroit. seemed like Ferg and Adams weren’t on same page.
Thunder fall behind 58-53. Came out sluggish in second half.
TLC knocks down open three. If he can hit shots like that he will have a roll on this team even if Dre doesn’t come back.
Pat hit a mid range jumper. He really struggled to make anything inside the three point mark last season.
Defense hasn’t been good coming out of half. Billy D calls time with 8:15 left in 3rd.
Steven Adams is still really good at offensive rebounding. FYI.
TLC hasn’t been very good on offense. Sloppy passes. But does have a few nice back cuts.
Schroder can’t get the pull up jumper to fall. Trying to shoot his way out of it. Can’t do it. Has gone to it three or four times in the first six minutes of third quarter.
5:50 left in 3rd. Ferg has four fouls and zero shot attempts.
Abrines in for TLC.
Schroder has lost control of the offense. It’s gone to a screeching halt as OKC falls behind 68-60.
JG in for Pat with 4:16 left in 3rd.
Abrines hits a three off a Steven Adams offensive rebound.
Diallo comes in for Ferg with 3:23 left in 3rd.
Dennis Schroder has said screw it and is now just attacking the basket and getting sent to the line.
Noel in for Adams at 2:59 in 3rd.
Ray in for Dennis at 2:45.
Tempers flare and Uncle Ray and Stanley Johnson get into it. He have to stop play in a preseason game to sort it all out… foul on Jose Calderon and Ts on Ray and Stanley Johnson. Three Ts in this game. This preseason game.
Noel breaks up Zaza drive and then Zaza fouls Noel on other end on a lop dunk try sent by Uncle Ray. But he missed both.
Uncle Ray doing Uncle Ray things. Hits a pull up three at the end of a shot clock, then shrugs at the Pistons bench. Pulls OKC within 2 before end of 3rd.
End of 3rd. OKC trails 75-73.
Ray, Alex, Diallo, JG and Noel to start 4th.
Diallo gets steal and… pull up jumper air ball. Just dunk it or pull it back out and reset the offense. He’s not ready for that.
Noel is causing all sorts of problems on defense for Zaza. Then Noel gets lay in off PNR on other end. Been a better second half for Noel. OKC takes 77-76 lead with 10 minutes to play.
TFerg enters for Abrines out of timeout.
OKC showed some full court man out of timeout.
Noel hit a midrange jumper off PNR with Felton.
Noel and Grant’s length are bothering Detroit.
TFerg’s first shot comes with 9:01 left in the game. He made the three.
Uncle Ray is playing really well. Not sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he plays consistent minutes this season.
Billy D waiving white flag tied 85-85 as Abdul Gaddy gets in game.
Now Ferg and Drummond get into it and everyone has to get separated. Back to the monitor. Ferg called for a foul. Ferg and Drummond called for double Ts. That’s five T’s in a preseason game. We are in midseason form.
Ferg hit a corner three to tie the game 91-91.
Down 94-91, Noel called for an illegal screen. Seemed more that Ish Smith sold the call and the official took the bait.
Diallo comes up with a steal with 44.2 seconds left with OKC down three, 94-91.
Felton lob to Noel.. who missed to dunk. Ish Smith hit the three on next possession to put up Detroit 97-91, officially ending OKC’s night.
Dennis and Adams didn’t play in 4th.
Some final numbers.
Dennis Schroder in his debut lead the team in scoring with 21 points on 5-16 shooting. He struggled to shoot well in the second half. He was 2-3 from three and pick and chose well when to pull the three point trigger. He finished with nine assists, two turnovers and five boards.
Steven Adams was second in scoring with 17 points on 8-15 shooting. He grabbed 12 rebounds, including nine offensive.
Next up is a road game on Friday night in Minnesota. Tip is set for 7 p.m. and it should be available to to watched on the Thunder app.
