Thunder
Hawks' Bench Outscores Thunder's 60-20, Holds Off Late OKC Push
The Hawks beat the Thunder 113-110 at State Farm Arena in a preseason game that stayed tight until the fourth quarter. Atlanta's bench outscored Oklahoma City's reserves 60-20, the difference after the Thunder had tied the score at 79-79 through three quarters. Both teams are 0-0, so the result carries no standings weight, but it offers an early look at each club's rotation.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 3 d ago01A Back-and-Forth Game Decided in the FourthAtlanta led 29-28 after one quarter and pushed the margin to 56-49 at halftime behind a 27-21 second quarter.
Atlanta led 29-28 after one quarter and pushed the margin to 56-49 at halftime behind a 27-21 second quarter. Oklahoma City answered with a 30-23 third quarter to tie the score at 79-79 entering the fourth. The Hawks then outscored the Thunder 34-31 in the final period to close it out, 113-110. Neither team built a big cushion: Oklahoma City's biggest lead was four points, Atlanta's was nine, and each team had 15 lead changes. The game stayed within reach until the final buzzer, a product of two rosters still sorting out rotations in the preseason.
02Stirtz Paces a Deep Thunder Scoring NightBennett Stirtz led all scorers with 26 points, going 9 of 16 from the field and 6 of 9 from three in 37.5 minutes.
Bennett Stirtz led all scorers with 26 points, going 9 of 16 from the field and 6 of 9 from three in 37.5 minutes. Brooks Barnhizer added 20 points and 8 rebounds but needed 23 shots to make 8. Aday Mara posted a near double-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks. Josh Dix contributed 16 points, 7 assists and 2 steals, and Otega Oweh grabbed 10 rebounds to go with 11 points. Oklahoma City shot 43.3% overall and 19 of 24 from the line, but the Thunder's bench managed just 20 points.
03Atlanta's Reserves Outscore the StartersThe Hawks got 60 points from their bench, more than their five starters combined.
The Hawks got 60 points from their bench, more than their five starters combined. Zuby Ejiofor scored 15 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, RayJ Dennis had 13 points and 7 assists, and Jalen Wilson added 12 points and 8 rebounds. Among the starters, Jock Landale was the most efficient player on the floor with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks on 7-of-11 shooting. Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 16 points on 4-of-7 three-point shooting. Atlanta shot 41.2% overall but made 18 threes on 51 attempts, more volume than Oklahoma City's 13-of-31 night.
04Turnovers and Steals Tipped the MarginAtlanta forced 11 steals to Oklahoma City's 5 and turned the ball over just 12 times, compared to 16 turnovers for…
Atlanta forced 11 steals to Oklahoma City's 5 and turned the ball over just 12 times, compared to 16 turnovers for the Thunder. That gap helped the Hawks to 15 points off turnovers, close to Oklahoma City's 18. Both teams scored 46 points in the paint, a wash inside, and the Thunder had the edge on the boards, 62 rebounds to 57, and in blocks, 13 to 7. But Atlanta's ball security and bench scoring were enough to offset Oklahoma City's rebounding and length advantage.
05A Preseason Look at Two RotationsBoth teams are 0-0, so the result does not move any standings; this was each club's preseason game at State Farm Arena.
Both teams are 0-0, so the result does not move any standings; this was each club's preseason game at State Farm Arena. For Atlanta, the bench production from Ejiofor, Dennis, Wilson and Kobe Johnson, who scored 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting, gives the coaching staff options heading into the regular season. For Oklahoma City, Stirtz's 26-point night and Mara's all-around line stood out even in the loss, as the Thunder worked through their rotation with Barnhizer and Dix also logging extended minutes.