The OKC Blue fell to the Capitanes in Mexico City due to an offensive explosion by former UConn standout and current Capitanes guard Shabazz Napier. The Roxbury native went off for 40 points in the Capitanes’ 118-116 overtime win on Friday.
But Blue wing Adam Mokoka isn’t looking for something or someone to blame for OKC’s 21-point lead evaporating under the pressure of Napier’s assault.
“The elevation for sure is hitting us,” he explained, “but we’re not going to make excuses. I feel like they came on really hard in the third quarter — that’s when we had some trouble.”
The altitude has been a thorn in the side of teams visiting the new home arena of the Capitanes.
“We still tried to fight to the end, but (Napier) was hitting big shots, and that’s part of the game,” he added.
The game ended on a basket by Capitanes wing Caio Pacheco.
A quick recap of the OKC Blue’s loss to the Mexico City Capitanes. https://t.co/nkElPZHvSn
— OKC Thunder Wire (@The_ThunderWire) January 7, 2023
Mokoka had enjoyed his visit to the Mexican capital, which has been the renewed subject of a potential expansion team for the NBA in the not-too-distant future.
“That would be a great opportunity for Mexico to get an NBA team,” related the French shooting guard.
“They are doing pretty good with the G League team, and I like the resources, the infrastructure, and the people, and (their) energy is really great.”
Good enough to power the Capitanes to back-to-back wins in their home arena, though the Blue took Mexico City to the brink twice in a row.
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