REYNALD MAGALLON
Kai Sotto and his Adelaide 36ers were sent crashing back to Earth after absorbing a tough 131-98 beatdown from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBL X NBA preseason games at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Friday, Oct. 7 (Manila time).
In euphoria in the past days following a 134-124 victory over the Phoenix Suns, the 36ers were given a quick reality check by the Thunder who leaned on the stellar showing of Tre Mann, Lindy Waters III and Eugene Omuruyi to send Adelaide back home with a 33-point loss.
After shooting the lights out in the first game, Adelaide struggled mightily on the offensive end, evident with Sotto who contributed 11 points last game, being held scoreless and missing all of his three shots from the field in only nine minutes of play although he hauled down four rebounds.
Mann led the way for the Thunder with 26 points built on eight triples while Waters III and Omuruyi finished with 23 and 19 points respectively.
Craig Randall came up with 27 points while Robert Franks added 20 to pace the 36ers who opted to rest veteran big man Daniel Johnson.
Oklahoma, likewise, were also without its key players in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren who are both out due to injuries.
Despite missing some of their players though, the Thunder’s firepower proved to be too much for the 36ers to bear as OKC quickly built a 38-point lead, 67-29, late in the first half.
Adelaide tried to make its own run in the hope of cutting down the deficit heading into the final quarter but OKC was just on point with its offense even establishing a huge 40-point lead, 108-68 heading into the payoff period.
The trip still bore positives for the 36ers who will be returning to Australia with a decent 1-1 record against NBA teams.
Adelaide preparations turn to its finishing touches in the coming week before making their NBL 2022- ’23 Season debut against the Tasmania JackJumpers on Oct. 13.
