After filming in the two attempts to launch a frightening fault, Brooks Barnhizer did not let New Orleans scare him. Instead, with the help of his teammates, they pressed the full ground and forced a violation of eight seconds. Like the NBA champion, the OKC summer league team played the same brand of defense of your breath.
THE Oklahoma City Thunder destroyed the New Orleans Pélicans In a victory for the summer league of 95-81. They are at a perfect record of 4-0. A strong differential points gives them a decent chance of making the playoffs with four teams.
At this stage of the summer league, the gymnasiums resemble a high school match. All the best names in the NBA stolen. Most of the best prospects have been withdrawn for a long time. This finally occurred with these two teams the second night of a consecutive back.
The Thunder passed the subject of Nikola and Ajay Mitchell. The Pelicans did the same with Micah Peavy, Derik Queen and Yves Missi. The only familiar name that had adapted to each side was Jeremiah’s fears. It looked like the beginning. It took the two teams for a while to enter an offensive flow while they were awkwardly adapted to the new queues.
The Pelicans looked more at the same wavelength with an advance of 20-12 after the first quarter. The absence of a leader injured the Thunder’s offensive. Branden Carlson was invited to create painting deeply and could not take advantage of the exterior looks he received.
What was missing to mark talents, they compensated with the effort. Brooks Barnhizer rolled up his sleeves and fought for buckets. The Thunder scored 20 points in the second quarter. An improvement for sure what happened at the beginning. They entered half-time in a small deficit of 34-32 at halftime.
While Thunder fans turned to the Espy Awards to see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bring back another trophy, the OKC summer league team overturned a change in the break. They looked much better and moved the ball. They jumped for 34 points in the third quarter. It was more than what they had in the first half.
Barnhizer finished around the edge while Chris Youngblood was hot from the outside. Jazian Gortman also had several fantasy finishes thanks to traffic. After fighting without subject and Mitchell, the Thunder understood certain things. As the fans changed the chain after Gilgeous-Alexander’s acceptance speech, they had a surprising 66-57 lead on the Pélicans after the third frame.
The fourth quarter had no drama. The Thunder blew the big game. They led by 20 points. 10 straight points have assured this. Meanwhile, the Pelicans could not bring anything out of the fears and Trey Alexander.
The Thunder scored 29 points in the fourth quarter. Most of the last minutes of the broadcast have been devoted to the logistics of the summer league playoffs. As several teams have perfect records, the equality break will be differential points. It gave OKC an additional motivation to increase the score.
The Thunder pulled 46% in the field and went 9 out of 26 (34.6%) out of 3. They pulled 20 out of 28 on free throws. They collected 23 passes on 33 baskets. Five Thunder players have scored two -digit points.
Barnhizer finished with 19 points and nine rebounds. Carlson collected 10 points and four rebounds. Youngblood scored 14 points. Gortman and Erik Reynolds II each scored 10 points.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans pulled 37% in the field and went 7 out of 31 (22.6%) out of 3. They pulled 22 out of 27 on free throws. They collected 17 passes on 26 baskets. Two Pelican players have scored two -digit points.
The fears collected 22 points, six assists and six rebounds. Alexander finished with 25 points and four rebounds on the bench. Both have Oklahoma links. The first attended the Oklahoma college while the second frequented a local high school.
It was a fairly entertaining competition to look at. Basketball patients have stayed around, but many may have settled after the subject and Mitchell was excluded in favor of the ESPYs or other summer events. But when they checked the score, you can bet they watched OKC control the second half, which would make the NBA team proud with the type of defense he played.
Now thunder sits and awaits. They have a strong chance of making the eliminations of the summer league. He will probably return to the points differential, which they have more-14.8. Very good. This should be enough to sneak, but we will have to wait and see Thursday.
Let’s look at the notes of Thunder players:
Brooks Barnhizer: A-Plus
Truating his defender with a pump pump, Barnhizer slowly pulled a sly lay-up. A few seconds later, he intercepted a pass for another flight. Feeling, he went up for a poster but was barely dirty and landed on a person in the basic seated camera.
The frightening fall led him to take some time to get up. But when he was out of the ground, his whole team came to check the 23 -year -old. It was quite the sight to see. The endless energy of the two -way player was contagious.
Barnhizer finished with 19 points on 8 shots out of 12, nine rebounds and a decisive pass. He pulled 3 of the 6 on free throws. He also had two blocks and a flight.
With Topic and Mitchell Out, Barnhizer was suddenly promoted as the best Thunder player. Many more shooting attempts were on the table. The role seemed too big for him at the beginning. Nothing too concerned. He will not see this use in the NBA anyway.
And then Barnhizer returned it with a solid second half. He scored 16 points. He cut the basket and had several finishes deeply in painting. A few dunks and layups have shown that he did not need a rider to set up points. That said, he even bent down his mid -range game with a rider.
It is the type of energy Boost that the thunder required to obtain an unlikely victory. Barnhizer intensified the top scorer. He was great and didn’t need a deep bag to leave his brand. Instead, the 23 -year -old relied on tenacity and efforts to get many second chance buckets.
Branden Carlson: C-Plus
After a return to the summer league which had the broadcaster Isiah Thomas questioning the NBA, Carlson suffered the most without a real playmaker available. The 26 -year -old came out of the bench and struggled in a new role where he was asked to finish inside the painting.
Carlson finished with 10 points on 3 out of 7 shots, four rebounds and two assists. He pulled 1 in 3 out of 3 and went 3 out of 4 on free throws.
With support and Mitchell in street clothes, Carlson could not benefit from capture and shot looks. No one else on the Thunder’s list could draw the attention they made when they went to the basket. Instead, the two-way player went beyond his comfort zone and tried to use his frame to finish at the edge.
This did not necessarily work. Carlson went to the free throw line but was not as effective as a seven feet should be. For his defense, he was asked to play his role of five years. But hey, that’s the goal of the summer league. Could also experiment now in these points with low leverage.
Chris Youngblood: B-Plus
Someone who managed to get their regular look was Youngblood. Although he did not receive net passes, his rapid release gave his teammates a lot of room for the error. All they needed to do was throw his general radius and they knew he would let him fly.
Youngblood finished with 14 points on 5 shots out of 9, two assists and a rebound. He pulled 3 out of 6 out of 3 and went 1 out of 1 on free throws. He also had a flight.
After a dry first half, Youngblood provided the thunder of the essential buckets. He scored 12 points in the second half. He took fire to the deep break. They desperately needed this because there were no real shooting creators to create their attack.
On all the unlikely recruits of 2025, Youngblood stood out the most in the summer league. His outdoor shot was a real weapon for thunder. With a vacant double -way place, most fans would be good if it was added just from what it brings the perimeter.
Jazian Gortman: B
By driving to the basket, Gortman exceeded several defenders to obtain the lay-up. It was a nice final touch for a third quarter that changed the match. With support and Mitchell, the 22 -year -old received more latitude to hunt more shooting attempts.
Gortman finished with 10 points on 3 out of 9 shots, five rebounds and four assists. He pulled 0 out of 1 of 3 and went 4 out of 4 on free throws. He also had two blocks.
The short -term Thunder needed a ball of the ball. This pushed Gortman to the starting program. He provided beautiful games at the same time as a marker and playmaker. Going to the Launarae franc line was also a big plus. He had his moments throughout the summer league.
The League G companion could add the OKC Blue to its CV. He played for Wisconsin Herd, Rip City Remix and Texas Legends in the past two seasons since his postponement in 2023. He could be a nice bench scorer for them.
