The Oklahoma City Thunder kicked off their Las Vegas Summer League run with a tough 96-84 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. It was a rough start, and they're now totally winless in this July NBA event, sitting at four straight losses, mostly in lopsided fashion. Yikes.
Mara's Misfire and the Unforgiving Vegas Grind
Aday Mara's struggles were definitely front and center for the Thunder. He put up just two points and grabbed seven rebounds, which isn't what you want to see from a guy trying to make an impact. This team is clearly finding it tough to get wins, and it feels like the competition is just steamrolling them right now.Who's Stepping Up Amidst the Losses?
But hey, not all was lost! Bennett Stirtz finally broke out, dropping 18 points and dishing out two assists. Brooks Barnhizer continues to put up numbers, adding 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. And then there's Adou Thiero, who absolutely went off for 20 points, four assists, and four rebounds! Anton Watson also chipped in with 15 points and four assists. For the Lakers, Cameron Carr also had 18 points and two rebounds, even throwing down a dunk against the Thunder. What's next for these guys? With the winless streak piling up, the focus has gotta be on developing these individual talents. Can they turn these strong individual performances into actual team wins next time out?This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.