Thunder vs Grizzlies recap: Ousmane Dieng helps OKC fend off Memphis in NBA Summer League
The Oklahoma City Thunder earned an 80-77 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday to conclude its time in the Salt Lake City Summer League.
OKC finished with a 2-1 record. Next up for the team is the Las Vegas Summer League, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with a game against Toronto.
Here are takeaways from the game:
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Kylor Kelley, Trey Jemison go to battle down low
Trey Jemison looked like a gladiator in a modern-day colosseum.
His weapons were his elbows, which the 6-10 center violently swung around to create space in the paint midway through the first quarter. Jemison then elevated for a one-handed dunk over Kylor Kelley, and he flexed his muscles in the face of his opponent afterwards.
It was a dominant display of strength, but Kelley also had some fight in him.
Jemison gathered the ball down low on Memphis’ next possession, and he leaned into Kelley’s body once again before attempting a dunk. Kelley met him at the rim for a block this time, and both players got called for a technical after exchanging some words.
Jemison and Kelley continued to battle throughout the night. Jemison finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Kelley recorded six points, five rebounds and two blocks.
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Ajay Mitchell is the driving force for OKC's offense
Ajay Mitchell practices safety when navigating traffic.
The rookie guard looked both ways as he pushed the ball up the floor on a fastbreak late in the second quarter. On his left was KJ Williams, and on his right was Adam Flagler.
In front of Mitchell were a pair of defenders, but the savvy guard went in and out of lanes to get around them before he sank a layup.
Mitchell never got sped up on Wednesday as he methodically dissected Memphis’ defense. The No. 38 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft finished with a game-high 21 points to go along with five rebounds.
Mitchell continues to show an impressive level of composure in Summer League play. The 22-year-old guard doesn’t look like a rookie, and he’s clearly comfortable behind the wheel of OKC’s offense.
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Ousmane Dieng bounces back from shaky start
Ousmane Dieng had enough ups and downs on Wednesday to match the skyline of the Salt Lake City mountains, but he finished on top.
After scoring just four points in the first half and committing five turnovers, the 21-year-old forward bounced back in the second half.
Mitchell fed the ball to Dieng in the opening minute of the third quarter, and he confidently knocked down an open 3-pointer from the corner. It marked his first made triple of the night on four tries.
Dieng continued to show flashes of the potential that enticed OKC to select him with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. The 6-9 forward either scored or assisted on 16 of the Thunder's final 18 points to help it escape with a narrow victory.
Dieng finished with 17 points, eight assists, four blocks and six turnovers. He went 7-for-20 from the floor (3-for-10 from deep).
“I’m just trying to make the right play,” Dieng said. “I don’t think that was my best game, but I was just trying to do the right play at the right moment. That’s what I did.”
Dieng is still far from a polished prospect, as he showed in Salt Lake City.
But he’s still a promising player who won G League Finals MVP with the OKC Blue last season, and he’ll look to continue to grow as the Thunder prepares for Las Vegas Summer League play.
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Final: Thunder 80, Grizzlies 77
OKC escaped with an 80-77 win. Ousmane Dieng led the Thunder to victory by either scoring or assisting on 16 of the team's final 18 points. He finished with 17 points, eight assists and four blocks.
— Justin Martinez, Staff writer
End 3Q: Thunder 52, Grizzlies 51
OKC held onto a slim 52-51 lead at the end of the third quarter, and Dieng came alive. After scoring just four points with five turnovers in the first half, the 21-year-old forward poured in seven points in the quarter.
— Justin Martinez, Staff writer
Halftime: Thunder 34, Grizzlies 33
OKC took a 34-33 lead into halftime, and Ajay Mitchell led the charge. The rookie guard erupted for 11 points in the second quarter, bringing his game-high total to 15.
— Justin Martinez, Staff writer
End 1Q: Grizzlies 20, Thunder 19
Memphis held a 20-19 lead at the end of the first quarter thanks in part to Trey Jemison. The 6-10 forward scored eight points on 4-for-6 shooting from the floor. Dillon Jones kept OKC within striking distance by recording four points and three steals.
— Justin Martinez, Staff writer
Memphis rookie Zach Edey (ankle soreness) will not play
Grind City Media’s Michael Wallace reported that Memphis rookie Zach Edey (ankle soreness) will not play on Wednesday.
Memphis selected the 7-foot-4 center with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Edey recorded 14 points and 15 rebounds in a 97-95 overtime loss to Utah on Monday, and he didn't play in the team’s 87-85 win over Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Thunder vs Grizzlies start time today
Date: Wednesday, July 10
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Where: Delta Center in Salt Lake City
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What channel is Thunder vs Grizzlies on TV today?
TV: NBA TV
Radio: 98.1 FM, 640 AM
How to watch online: Watch ESPN (here's how to stream it live)
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder fends off Memphis Grizzlies in NBA Summer League thriller
