The Oklahoma City Thunder came within a possession of stealing a road victory Monday night, but the Atlanta Hawks made the final plays to escape with a 113-110 preseason win at State Farm Arena.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso and much of Oklahoma City’s established rotation sitting out, the spotlight belonged to the young players fighting to establish themselves. Two of them made the most of the opportunity.
Rookie guard Bennett Stirtz poured in 26 points, while 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara delivered a remarkable all-around performance with 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four blocks. Brooks Barnhizer added 20 points, and Josh Dix contributed 16 points and seven assists.
The Thunder’s young lineup showed enough offensive firepower to stay competitive against Atlanta. But when the game reached its decisive moments, Oklahoma City couldn’t quite finish the job.
For a team using the preseason to evaluate its depth, the result was disappointing. The individual performances were considerably more encouraging.
Stirtz and Mara Give Oklahoma City Plenty to Like
Stirtz continued his impressive preseason by leading all scorers with 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 6-of-9 from three-point range. He also recorded five assists and four rebounds.
The rookie showed an ability to create his own shot, punish defensive mistakes and provide scoring when Oklahoma City needed someone to take responsibility for the offense.
That last part matters.
With the Thunder’s primary creators unavailable, Stirtz had to shoulder a larger offensive burden than he would typically face alongside the team’s established stars. He responded with one of his most productive performances of the preseason.
Mara was equally impressive in a different way.
The rookie center recorded a double-double while adding six assists and four blocks. His passing helped Oklahoma City generate offense through the middle of the floor, while his length gave the Thunder a legitimate defensive presence around the basket.
Mara’s ability to contribute beyond scoring is particularly encouraging. He isn’t simply a tall target waiting for passes around the rim. His vision can help connect teammates, and his size gives Oklahoma City another way to challenge opponents defensively.
Through three preseason games, Mara is making a compelling case for continued evaluation as the Thunder determine how to structure their frontcourt rotation.
Barnhizer Helps Keep the Thunder in the Fight
Barnhizer supplied another significant scoring performance, finishing with 20 points and eight rebounds.
His efficiency was less impressive than his scoring total, but his willingness to remain aggressive helped Oklahoma City maintain offensive pressure throughout the night.
Dix also played an important role, finishing with 16 points and seven assists. His ability to contribute as both a scorer and facilitator helped take some of the playmaking burden off Stirtz.
The broader takeaway is that Oklahoma City’s developmental players were able to generate offense through several different avenues. The Thunder shot 13-of-31 from three-point range, a strong 41.9% mark, and recorded 26 assists.
Those numbers suggest the offense retained some of its structure even without its usual stars.
The challenge now is translating that offensive production into more consistent execution on both ends of the floor.
The Final Minutes Make the Difference
The game remained competitive throughout, with neither team able to establish lasting separation.
Oklahoma City entered the fourth quarter knotted up 79-79 after outscoring Atlanta 30-23 in the third. The Thunder then scored 31 points in the final period, but Atlanta answered with 34 of its own.
The Hawks ultimately made the decisive plays.
Asa Newell secured an offensive rebound and converted a second-chance basket to put Atlanta ahead late. RayJ Dennis then delivered a crucial three-pointer before helping force a turnover in the closing seconds. Stirtz knocked down a late three to bring Oklahoma City within three, but the Thunder ran out of time.
The sequence illustrated one of the central challenges facing young teams: executing under pressure when every possession matters.
Oklahoma City’s offense produced enough points to win. Its late-game execution simply wasn’t quite good enough.
The Numbers Tell an Interesting Story
The Thunder finished 13-of-31 from beyond the arc and 19-of-24 at the free-throw line. They also recorded 26 assists.
But Oklahoma City committed 16 turnovers, compared with 12 for Atlanta, and the Hawks finished with 18 offensive rebounds.
Those extra possessions proved costly in a three-point game.
The Thunder also surrendered 46 points in the paint, highlighting the difficulty of protecting the interior without Holmgren and the team’s regular defensive personnel.
The lesson isn’t that Oklahoma City’s young players cannot defend. It’s that defensive rebounding, ball security and communication become even more important when experienced defenders aren’t available to help organize the unit.
The Bottom Line
The Thunder are now 0-3 in preseason play, but the record isn’t the most important number coming out of Atlanta.
Stirtz continues to demonstrate his scoring potential. Mara is showing that his game extends well beyond his physical tools. Barnhizer and Dix supplied meaningful offensive contributions, and the young group remained competitive until the final possession.
There are still things to clean up, particularly turnovers and defensive rebounding. But this was a useful evaluation night for a roster that will need contributions from more than its established stars over the course of a long season.
Oklahoma City returns home to face the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night, with another opportunity to evaluate its personnel before the regular season begins.
The Thunder didn’t get the win in Atlanta.
They did, however, get another encouraging look at what their next generation might become.