The Oklahoma City Blue, G League affiliate of the Thunder, dominated in their first game of the bubble tournament on Thursday.
The Blue took down the Salt Lake City Stars, the Utah Jazz’s affiliate, 118-84.
Small forward Antonius Cleveland scored the first 10 points of the game and finished with 25, the most for either team. He was excellent all-around, also grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing five assists.
Cleveland has 28 games of NBA experience. He appeared in 13 for the Dallas Mavericks in 2017-18 before getting injured and being waived. He was signed by the Atlanta Hawks, where he appeared in four games that same season.
He wouldn’t step on the NBA floor again until 2019-20, when he returned to the Mavericks and appeared in 11 games.
WATCH YA HEAD 🔨@ac_uno1 | #OKCBlue pic.twitter.com/IjXbJeUOdL
— OKC BLUE (@okcblue) February 11, 2021
Guard Chasson Randle, who has 78 games of NBA experience, scored 18 points in 20 minutes.
Wing Rob Edwards, who was a college teammate of Thunder wing Lu Dort, scored 21 points and made four 3s.
Let the ball do the work 🏀@melvinjrrr ➡️ @VE_12 ➡️ @robedwardss2 pic.twitter.com/Pz8PIIFaCu
— OKC BLUE (@okcblue) February 11, 2021
This was the first look at some of the Thunder’s players in the G League.
Center Moses Brown thoroughly dominated as he recorded 15 points and 17 rebounds, six of them offensive, over 28 minutes of play.
Power forward Aleksej Pokusevski had five points, nine rebounds and one assist in 23 minutes. He shot 2-for-10 from the field and made a 3, and did not attempt a free throw.
Poku drains it 🎯@ac_uno1 ➡️ @aleksejpokusevs pic.twitter.com/rn8MPlqv3j
— OKC BLUE (@okcblue) February 11, 2021
Guard Ty Jerome also made his first appearance of the season. Acquired from the Phoenix Suns in the Chris Paul trade, he did not appear in a single Thunder game due to a left ankle sprain.
He had four points, two assists and a rebound in eight minutes of play on Thursday.
Blue Rolls Past Stars in Season Opener
🎥 | Ed Murray, radio voice of the Blue
đź”— | https://t.co/q3cFITOJUo pic.twitter.com/6c9WKncQxN— OKC BLUE (@okcblue) February 11, 2021
The Blue’s next game will be played Friday against G League Ignite. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Central Time and can be viewed on ESPNU.