Watch: Thunder Summer League coach David Akinyooye on the night of Ousmane Dieng vs. the Grizzlies
Watch: Thunder Summer League coach David Akinyooye on the night of Ousmane Dieng vs. the Grizzlies
Joe Mussatto, Oklahoman
SALT LAKE CITY — Tre Mann admittedly had a difficult sophomore season, and while three Summer League games won’t eliminate those problems, Mann can keep his head high after putting the finishing touches on a dominant Summer League season in Salt Lake City has.
Mann hit the biggest shot of the game on Thursday, leading the Thunder to a 100-91 win over the 76ers. In a game in which the Thunder led by 31 points, Mann’s triple prevented the Sixers from making a comeback with 2:12 left in the fourth quarter.
The Thunder, now playing in the Las Vegas Summer League, won 2-1 in Salt Lake City. In those three games, Mann averaged 23.7 points with a 55% shot rate. Mann managed 10 of 24 (42%) behind the archway. If a tournament MVP were awarded, Mann would have a strong case.
“I’m trying to get better shots and I felt like that made me more efficient,” Mann said. “That was the main reason for me to come into the game, try to be balanced, play with a good pace and show my maturity. I’m proud of how I did it. A couple of turnovers that I could have fixed…but overall I felt like I was really balanced.”
Mann posted the highest score of 23 points in Thursday’s 7-of-15 shooting. He had eight rebounds and five assists.
More: Tre Mann is looking great in the NBA Summer League, but where does he fit in OKC Thunder’s future?
Ousmane Dieng settles in
Ousmane Dieng gradually improved in the Thunder’s three games in Salt Lake, capped off by an excellent performance on Thursday against the Sixers.
“I think I got better yesterday and today,” said Dieng, who scored 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting.
Thunder’s coaching staff wants Dieng to play with “power.” In other words, make his presence felt. Get involved in the game.
Dieng did that on Monday. He seemed like a more comfortable, confident version of himself.
“On offense he was mismatched with the fives,” said Thunder Summer League coach David Akinyooye. “I thought he also started our offensive well.”
Dieng, who played minutes at center in the absence of Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams, had ten rebounds, three steals and three assists.
He also had nine turnovers at team level. The Thunder, trailing some primary ballers, struggled to finish the game.
Players who are not in the squad get a chance
Thursday provided a cool opportunity for non-roster players like Caleb McConnell, Hunter Maldonado, KJ Williams, Jaden Shackelford, Zhaire Smith and Jahmi’us Ramsey to play significant minutes for the Thunder.
Maldonado, a six-year-old Wyoming player, and Williams, who joined LSU from Murray State, both started.
“We played a lot of these guys today and these guys were ready, they came in and they played properly,” said Akinyooye.
Zhaire Smith shines
Five years ago, Zhaire Smith was 16th overall in the NBA draft.
But the former Texas Tech star was eliminated from the league in just his second season. He only appeared in 13 games for the 76ers. He had to cope with injuries and eventually ended up in the hospital for several weeks due to a severe allergic reaction.
Smith is struggling to return to the league and appeared for the Thunder on Thursday night.
Smith, who was not invited to the squad, scored 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting.
Cason Wallace: Game time decision
Would Cason play Wallace?
It looked like the Thunder, including a decked out Wallace, ran out of the tunnel to warm up. But when the starting lineups were announced, Wallace’s name was missing.
Shortly after the tip, the Thunder shut out Wallace. OKC’s draft-night trade with Dallas to take on Wallace with the 10th pick had been made official, but Wallace’s rookie contract with the Thunder had yet to be processed by the league.
Thursday was the first day Wallace was able to sign with the Thunder, but the paperwork wasn’t finished before the tip was made.
Wallace, however, remained in uniform and sat in the middle of the Thunder’s bench.
The Kentucky rookie guard is expected to make his Summer League debut Saturday in Las Vegas.
More: How did ex-Sooner Tanner Groves join OKC Thunder for the NBA Summer League?
Thunder Tip-ins
– Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Jaylin Williams, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Keyontae Johnson were out for the Thunder.
– Thunder’s coaching staff wore “Heather Orange” shirts. Kind of a pale burnt orange.
– The two teams combined for 46 turnovers in a 40-minute game.