The Thunder lost to the Hawks 110-113 on October 12, their third straight preseason defeat, with the game swinging after Atlanta broke a tie with an 8-0 run in the second quarter. Oklahoma City's reserve-built group got 37 points from its starters but only 5 from the bench, leaning on Bennett Stirtz, Aday Mara and Josh Dix to stay within reach.
The Run That Mattered
Atlanta's break came in the second quarter, an 8-0 run from the 8:50 mark to 6:42 that turned a 31-29 edge into a 34-37 deficit for the Thunder. Oklahoma City called timeout at 31-35 to answer it, but the Hawks held the separation through seven lead changes and three ties across the night. The margin stayed inside single digits late, Atlanta's biggest cushion at seven points against Oklahoma City's best answer of four, before the Hawks closed it out 110-113.
Who Closed It Out
Oklahoma City finished the last five minutes with Bennett Stirtz, Brooks Barnhizer, Christoph Tilly, Josh Dix and Zhaire Smith on the floor, a lineup built around reserves and two-way names. Smith was the only Thunder player to finish in positive territory, a plus-5 in 10 minutes, while Stirtz (minus-1 in 16 minutes) and Dix (minus-3 in 17 minutes) stayed close to even. Aday Mara carried the worst mark on the roster at minus-9 in 16 minutes, with Brooks Barnhizer close behind at minus-8 in 18 minutes.
Grades for the Night
Stirtz earns a B: a team-high 9 points on 3-of-6 shooting and a clean trip to the line. Mara is a B-minus, with 8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocked shots forming the busiest line on the floor, undercut by that minus-9. Dix is a C-plus, 8 points on 3-of-8 shooting including 2 of 5 from three, but a minus-3 that matched the team's trouble finding separation. The loss is Oklahoma City's third straight in exhibition play, and the schedule offers little time to dwell on it, with the Pacers up one day later on October 13.
What was the score of the Thunder-Hawks preseason game on October 12?
The Hawks beat the Thunder 113-110, Oklahoma City's third straight preseason loss.
Who led the Thunder against the Hawks?
Bennett Stirtz led Oklahoma City with 9 points, while Aday Mara added 8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks.
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